One AM

 by David Chorlton
 
The North Star blows smoke
from the tip of a revolver. It’s one AM
and the sky has grown restless.
The desert lies down to sleep
while the heat of the day
soaks in to rocks. Over and beyond
 
the mountain city lights illuminate
strip mall after strip mall, at one of which
a party ended just
as an owl chose the moment
to sweep darkness and a mouse
aside with its silent wings. It is
a wonderful mystery the way
 
thirst turns into life
when coyotes thread their way
along night’s stony paths. And asked
what happened, people
 
told reporters  It was like emptying
a bucket of stars into a crowd.