The Garden at Night

the garden at night

is a magical place

wind in the willows

and rain on the slate

a dead woman walks

through the larches and pine

the nutter next door

still acts like a swine

an ache in the eyes

and an ache in the palms

chimaeras and ghosts

and moments of calm

uneasy uneasy

despite all the jokes

something’s moving

in the green laurel grove

i decided to split

when i heard the school bell

a woman was laughing

a quiet evening fell

my friends were returning

my lovers in sight

all coming back

to the garden at night