At 4 a.m. I stirred and sensed the sting
of musk from neighbor skunks invade my sleep.
I saw the pair at 7 and, next thing
I knew, the reek again began to seep
into my cottage. I don’t try to keep
the creatures off – they’re peaceful and sincere,
preferred to others, but it’s thick and deep
today I’ll need to light aroma here.