Tonight's Poet Corner: Dawn, I Dare You

Dawn, I Dare You
by Belinda Roddie

Dawn, I dare you
to make the sun rise
like your namesake - to paint
the sky pink and stir clouds, like cream,
into your coffee. I dare you
to blow bubbles into the fog and make
it boil enough to let off heavenly steam.

Tonight will consist of beer, bandaids,
and sneaker-stamped tomfoolery, and
though it will be dark, I want you there.
I want you there so you can light
the bonfire, pass out sticks for
marshmallows, and lead us in
a song that will make the air
a little warmer, and us a little rowdier,
so we can stay awake to watch \
the morning open its mouth.