the song of loss and hope dogwood trees snow white and pink their petals pushed down to the grass which cannot help but feel their weight the dog herself cannot stand up, because a breeze would bring collapse beneath the clouds in half-sunlight for when the rain's like slantwise knives, like rusting grates, like pain enough the curtain's drawn against the sight and no one watches what they want when night forgets to bring the stars and dusk broods long on city streets a penny please, a penny sir! she shouts, she stops, she drags herself when passing ears have lost their youth distraction holds them all in place - the girl, the dog, the rained on night are left behind to seek themselves to find the grass or something else which cannot speak or hurt or spill a drop of water from the well