Alice Goodman

Now the maid, having set the plates for breakfast, puts out the light and climbs down to her cot. Now the mouse drops to the pantry floor and begins to chew. Now the beetle with his camphor wings snaps his elytra at the bottom of the woodpile. Ice covers the house like ribs of candle-wax. Now the cattle begin to lie down in the street, and rest their heads upon each other’s backs. Now...