Inside Out

Reading Murakami’s Wind-Up Bird
In the bath
In the state of New York
Which is covered in snow

The skies are full of it
Matt grey lump grey
Heavy like a promise

The water cools
My foot moves the faucet left
Into the next chapter

Outside the door
My new snow boots
Lean to the wall

I am fist-fighting sleep
The heat is pulling
At my eyelids
The text wavers

A line forms
Where the water touches
My skin a rough blush

My hands book-dry
Still turning the pages
Of Murakami’s novel
About the wind-up bird.