In Red Weather

The mountains of Rego Park?

Strange weather, like yesterday's downpours, sun breaks, and cloud mountains--not to mention, "super moons"--makes me think of Wallace Stevens' "Disillusionment at Ten O'Clock."

The houses are haunted
By white night-gowns.
None are green,
Or purple with green rings,
Or green with yellow rings,
Or yellow with blue rings.
None of them are strange,
With socks of lace
And beaded ceintures.
People are not going
To dream of baboons and periwinkles.
Only, here and there, an old sailor,
Drunk and asleep in his boots,
Catches tigers
in red weather.

Read it on the subway. Try not to dream of baboons and periwinkles.