Night Watch

          For William Jay Smith

The heart I hear in bed tonight

Is mine—it frightens me

To hear my heart so clearly

It could stop at any time

Keep your ear to the ground

I was told without fear

Now I am hollowed for sound

And it is my heart I hear

Samuel Menashe

From The Niche Narrows: New
and Selected Poems, Talisman
House, Publishers, © 2000.
Reprinted by permission of the
author.