I have heard it before;

shouting on the street.

 

Total darkness. 

 

           It could be

           3:46 a.m.

 

     in any other city.

 

The violence of silence

                 is not unique

 

   to downtown Toronto.

 

When I hear bottles smash

           in the night

 

   I try not to think of

             human bones. 

 

   Fragility, and

 

     all of the pressure 

     we are under.

 

     For what?

To live?    I don’t know.

 

     To try?

 

We are all trying

                 to live.

 

   To breathe.    To sleep

 

3:54 a.m.

 

 

12/03/2024                                                                                                                         j.g.l.