Nightmare

All we had

were pints

at the bar,

not enough

to hang

a hat on;

shouting

through

the din-

sitting close

to hear,

not connect.

But his skin,

remembered,

covers me

at night

like snow sans

paw prints;

the quiet,

resilient

to interlopers,

muffles

fear-

lullabies a

good night.