Midnights are commonplace

Midnights are commonplace
but a straight rain is rare
a rain that falls perfectly
perpendicularly
without deviation
that hits you
on the crown of the head
and runs around the contours
of your naked body
down to the ground

don’t ask where
don’t ask why naked
don’t ask when
believe me
a straight rain is rare

I inhabit a history
in which the names
are anonymous
and I have slept
for many years

not all at once
of course
but midnights
have been commonplace
in my life –
long may they last

John Lyons