BAT HOUSE

Turn out the light and I’ll explain.

—James Fenton

It’s where I’m heading

It’s what I overheard

The lines in the corner

The flaming word.

It’s what you expected

Your greatest fear

A chip in the teacup

Bills from last year.

It’s dark in the bat house

Beetles stuck on the screen

It’s cold in the crawl space

Slow quarantine.

Don’t lie to the drunkard

Question each doubt

Shadow the cat

Turn the light out.

If you meet me halfway

I’ll tell you what for

Where it begins

Open the door.

It’s the news in the paper

Same as last week

The sirens at midnight

Why you can’t sleep.

The dog’s in the basement

You lost the phone

The father keeps calling

Bury what’s known.