Listening

Finding himself unable to sleep he decided
to stay up as late as he could.
He opened his window and listened
to the still of night. At one point
he heard a sound that could have been
two people making love.
Listening to the world while others slept
he felt as though he had accidentally
stumbled into a great truth.
The greatness of this truth was quiet
and sought to bring no attention to itself.
It was content to simply be.
He began to yawn and feel fatigued
but he had no interest in sleeping.
He wished to sit in stillness
as the world around him dreamed
of things that would be forgotten
once the sun shone and life resumed.
The lateness of the hour burned into him
as he saw its red eyes raw and feral.
He decided to close his eyes and listen.
He listened and listened until at last
He listened to life in another world.