Looking Up at Darkness

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LOOKING UP AT DARKNESS


I’ve grown, with time, accustomed to 

Your reticence, Your slow,


deliberate decision not to speak—

it’s more, I trust, than inability. 


We too keep our gaze averted

when the dog whimpers, at least 


until he sees that yelling doesn’t

get him what he wants, 


and when he quiets down we funnel

him a treat to tell him yes, we still


exist. Tonight I saw a comet

and greedily nibbled it.


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