after the rain, in his favorite time of night

my son
has crept down the stairs
and sidled
beside me

how well he already understands
as he says
looking at the night
through the open window
screen beaded with the remains
of the rain

as he says
of the crickets and the hush
hush of the passing tires
that it is
his favorite time of night

how well he understands
this buys him
several moments before
i can stand to send him back to bed.