Nighthawks

That day , I saw them barkat the moon to set,reserving the sunits seat .

They jeered snidewhen the dark cloggedchildren’s lungs with cindersfrom a bullet race.

They chantedto resurrect the dead,turning epitaphsinto magicians’ spells.

But they tightened noosesin a single breath,as long as theycould give death a face.

That day , I saw them lookingout the café window, pockmarkedby their own glass - eyed gaze,squinting half - asleep.