Snow fell at midnight.
 
The waxing moon was hidden.
 
You forgot my name.

 
 
 

pilgrim at midnight
 
worrying rosary beads
 
till the first bird sings

 

 
 
 

From a red-tile roof
 
a crow blacker than midnight
 
hurls insults at me.

 

 
 
 

At half past midnight
 
I overhear my plum tree
 
singing to the stars.

 

 
 
 

tolling midnight bells
 
rolling through the streets in waves
 
waking everyone

 
 
 

Little brown sparrow,
 
at midnight I start waiting
 
for your morning song.

 
 
 

Unexpected rain
 
pounding on my windowpane—
 
the clock strikes midnight.

 
 
 

Rain after midnight—
 
my neighbor’s terrace glistens
 
in the street light’s glare.

 
 
 

What do I not know
 
that I might learn at midnight
 
from the coyotes?

 
 
 

Preparing to feast,
 
the rats come after midnight
 
to my melon patch.