Meanwhile

It’s when we’re asleep and dreamless

that we miss the silent landing

of snowflakes on the roads

of city and suburbs,

emptying the sky of stars.

It’s when we’re fast asleep

that our shadows play

with the energy of pent-up children,

throwing stars at each other

like great shooting snowballs.

(previously published in The Sun Herald, 2010, and Meanjin, 2005)