if darkness could

light finds
dense bunches of grapes,
half-shaven poodles,
deserted crustaceans,
reclaiming plucked
half-dead fruit of land
and sea like vultures
plucking meat from
earthly victims.

if darkness, restful darkness,
could be left to
its own devices,
if shadows could hold
the rotting and decay,
could sequester the
luxury of the dog
and monkey,
defy the sickly revealing
half-sunlight,
the tableau might
be at peace, free
to slip into silence
and fungus in
its own way.