Invisible, the creature captured me
with a barrage of questions halfway

 

through the night; wrenched me away

 

from moonlight and the red glow
of the clock, the warm body

 

beside me, the heavy breathing

 

of the dogs ringed round our bed;
drew me toward the cold caliginosity

 

of the other side

 

of the house. Fumbling through
the study door, I again heard

 

the predator proclaim himself,

 

unanswered. No light penetrated
the back windows

 

below the cloud-pricking pines,

 

and I groped toward the couch,
where I found an old blanket to

 

serve as shroud; stretched out

 

and slowed my spirit;
practiced holding still, while

 

I waited for another sleep.