The all-night convenience store's
empty
and no one is
behind
the counter
You open and shut
alone
but no one appears
waiting
to buy a pack of cigarettes
silence
finally you take one
and leave thirty-five cents in its place
freezing
but it is a good thing to step outside again
you can feel less alone
in the night
with lights on
here and there
between the dark buildings
and trees
Your own among them
somewhere
There must be thousands
of people in this city
who are dying to welcome you into their small bolted rooms
to sit you down and tell you what has happened to their lives
And the night smells like snow
Walking home for a moment you almost believe you could start again
And it's unendurable
unendurable