rain

rain
tapping on my window
i can barely
stand the pain
ain't no end to the winter
howls
whipping gray frenzied
winter
how can the rain
just tap
it must think to lull me into
stupor

inside this house i've found
all the ways a gentle man
can waste
looking for a god
or two
making waylay of silly
strangers
writing names and dates
petty and pretty remembrances
concocted, in my usual manner
only i can jabber with
old mr. truth
and win the game

there's a lock for every
occasion
a fact that's sidled by you
unaware
but until you've loved a
lock maker
given yourself over to
the craft
until you've danced that
swirly dance
you may be tempted by
the rain
tapping on my window
smiling at the pain

no,
there ain't no end to winter