There is still time to sleep

There is still time
to sleep. There is still

time to sleep,
but the streets are already

waking from its torpor—
its frigid limbs regathered;

a neighbour's chair
set hard against the floor;

the difficult whimper
of the rolled-up door—whilst I shuffle

gelid shadow in pale 
purple,

optimistic and quiet at
half past four.

Dale Chou
2021-02-03