Jake's Flea Market

these are the january and the february hours after midnight

her sleepless attendant opens the door to her bedchamber
sees by candlelight how nora’s body   motionless on the bed’s
become a row of mountains under snowdrifts of deep sheepskin

in a dark cave embraced by white ribs her heart’s a bear
a bear that warms the ribs   and is warmed by the ribs

its blood slows    and deepest it sleeps