Nap Nightmare

By Mather Schneider

Noon comes to the clock
like a black cat's feet.

Somebody's television
mumbles through the stucco

that separates us
from the animals.

You are led to a point
in the middle of the desert

and left there
like a donkey

wearing blinders.
You don't know

that soon you'll wake up
and laugh.

You think you will die
in the dirt.

You think the birds
will peck your bones

to shine in the
sun like beacons.