ALIVE TODAY

bedtime is such a victory
J.B. Rowell

a reprieve
lives brought
around clock
to seed
another day
revive
for tomorrow
then another
bird's last call
through single-pane
window
what holds
it all back is only
happen-
stance
not mother's will
what will
get us through
tonight
tomorrow
only geography or
luck to avoid
bombs
bus shrapnel
flies
elsewhere
everywhere
we are all in
danger of
ourselves
our fears our
selfish victories