Night, April 21, 2020

Sleepless at 4 AM
fistful of glitter in the deep-azure sky
Jupiter and Mars rising in the East
meteor across the heart of the Swan

and I
touch the doorknob to go back inside
touch the doorknob to close the door
lock it against all the bad things out there

make my ablutions at the kitchen sink
age-yellowed Ivory soap and hot water
for your penance say one Our Father (17 seconds)
and one Hail Mary (12 seconds)
pat your hands dry
be clean
and go the hell to bed