Social Items

In Malaysia by Mary Oliver

   Moonlight
   washes the red tiles
   and the white walls

   the streets
   are cool at last
   after the great

   heat of the day
   the gardeners
   have all gone home

   leaving the lawns
   perfect
   the ocean

   rises
   sighing
   dragging its sleeves

   of light and litter
   along the shore
   in the distance

   the mountains
   are smoky
   old fires

   greatly subdued
   the brass key
   is nested

   in the carved door
   blossoms
   yellow ivory and pure white