listen to the pre-dawn still
invisible birds call
while the hushed valley,
a sleeping dog,
expects the sun
collar to the cool breeze
to stray through
the streets dirty fingernails
and feel a silence
pressed to the ground
a riderless car passes
while a plane
slips through the clouds
the mountains snow glowing
under an ivory tinge
white candles
to flicker until daylight
birds crease the air
as steps repeat
and I bob between
the sketched houses
with their utility line masts
inside a breathless marina
traces of lights prepare
as the sun billows
and candles thaw
always melting too soon
at a moment’s breathing
a leaving
like the crest of waves
slowly dying by shore
soft candlelight before sunrise
let’s me hold on to dreams
while holding on to my shadow