To Those Who Stay Up Late

To Those Who Stay Up Late

When streets are dark, and houses
emit only shadow from openings.

When the only sounds that come at you
are infrequent moans and squeaks
of the plumbing embedded in the ceiling,
or a fan whirring in the next room,
oceanic, fragmented.

Perhaps you seek company in electronics
or books. Pale pages or flickering screens
tell you a story you already know.

What are you worried you will miss.
What are you hoping to learn.