Say a midnight owl hoots
a helicopter hovers
a coyote slinks past headstones
in a night of PJs and false promises
say a mother drains scotch to forget
her heart’s holler
say she leaves contrails of hurt
no hugs, no sandwiches for school
a knife on the counter
a paddle in the drawer
Say a girl is swallowed in an XL sweatshirt
only apple slices and carrots
say an ambulance takes her away
in a moon muddle of madness
say her life is illegible
clinging to the edge of a razor
longing to fall, afraid to fail
a lost crow in a clock tower
l say help her take off her too large sweatshirt
and let her light shine
