scary house

creaks and creaks and won’t stop

the wind is wet and tangled in a fever

craggy maple hits smooth spruce walls

a wild night                 the dog

opens and opens and won't stop

her anxious jaws feeling fear

blood feeling cold blue, or gray rods in the back of the retina

swift mercury or greased cast iron pan

freezing under the oven 

in the depth of vermont. 

sweet weeping praying everything to sleep, the dog laughs

i am scared and peaceful

my mouth is locked and my eyes are wide

except when i yawn and close

at the sped up branching of ruining shivers

and mystic joy                      wooden ceiling

creaks and creaks and stops when i say so