Danger In The Night by Ruth Marler

Arts Richmond

Online - 20 June 2020

DANGER IN THE NIGHT

awake since 0230 

I resort to Ovaltine 

and whole-wheat bagels

the trip downstairs

fraught with danger

the landing light-bulb

exploded hours ago 

as I retired to bed.

I left my slippers at the door

as a marker and reminder

that glass lay strewn across the floor

this night-time trip

to warm my milk

across the worn brown carpet

safe and warm  beneath my feet

was undertaken in the dark

till I could reach a working light

and all the while

the broken bulb

lay cold and sharp

teeth agape

yearning for me to stray

by  Ruth Marler