all night

all night
a dog barks in the yard
across the street.
I look out
the blinds
and see nothing.
he's behind a fence.
it's cold out,
the wind is fierce.
finally he stops.
he's either died or
the owner has let
him in.
I can't get back to
sleep though.
I miss the chaos.
the howling,
the sound of his paws
scratching at
the gate trying to get
out.
I listen to the wind,
the rattle of
the shutters against
the house,
the sound of metal
cans rolling down
the icy street.
the bending of frozen
trees in the woods,
ahhh. music to my ears.