Sardines (poem)

Lying close
Playing sardines
We are quiet
In the night air.

The air is
Not so cold
It bites you
But you wear
A jacket,
And gloves,
And a hat.

I see people
Running, or walking funny
I know they've found the man
I walk with them.

I fall down
My hands break
My fall
And I squeeze in
With everybody else.

When somebody comes
and falls down
I hear a
Muffled thump.

I hear
The breathing of
Lots of people,
Especially the person
Next to me.

I smell
The stink
Of the person's
Breath next to me.

I try to turn
Over, to look at
The stars, but give up
Afraid of making too much noise.

I wait until
The person with
The flashlight comes by to
Say it's time to get up.

Ruby Fore
Fall 2004