Grave-shift workers reach Zen-like focus br br That sometimes amplifies noises - br br Pecans thwacking the tin roof, br br And squirrels scrambling after them - br br Before everything dumbs down br br Into the silent sea of sleep. br br br br The motorcycles revving br br Their guttural voices br br Thick with machismo br br Rumble into dreams as thunder br br From the wedges of towering nimbus. br br br br br The neighbors arguing, br br The dogs yip-yapping in the yard, br br And cats yowling under the house br br As they each fight over territory, br br All are lifted into dreams, br br Like so many alien abductions br br And become the shadow play br br Of conflicts my soul is engaged in.