Tigers

The tigers come at four
Shaped like the curtains and the floor
Like the stars they once were, wild and cold
You turn to see me
I can’t believe it’s really you
Sharpening your teeth on my low womb
Playing with tigers
Chasing the lampshade with my toes
Playing with tigers
Till I find out where it goes
You check your clothes
You come and lay with me awhile
In the theater of dreams
We are sleeping in the aisle
Wind climbs up the brick
Carrying brightly colored ghosts
They play on you with the light
From the street below
Playing with tigers
Chasing the lamp with my toes
Playing with tigers
Till I find out where it goes
Where it goes, where it goes
Playing with tigers
Painting a tiger
I tried to leave you
But you sent all the cars to bring me back
Tigers falling like paper on our parade
The tigers, tigers
And the mail blowing out of the mailbox
Down on the street
Playing with tigers
Sleeping on tigers
Tiger, tiger
Climbing up the brick to your window
Using the sharp end of what you said
There I go, falling like paper on our parade
I can’t tell you anymore than that
Tomorrow when the trains come
I’ll tell you more tomorrow
When the trains come
I’ll leave it with you till then