Most People Long Asleep

    by Phyllis Wax 

blood on the outside door
he tried to break down
running at it
hurling himself against it
time after time

                the time it took
                the cops to come     

time
thumping in my throat and chest
battering my skull                  

cries of Let me in! 
screams

                the clock ticked
                chimed, ticked
             
wham, wham 
again, again
against the door

and somehow he managed 

to get in, stumble    
up the stairs, sit              
silent beside my door          

three a.m.
no one on the icy street