Night run

Somewhere, the thoughts took a wrong turn
and now I find myself stuck
in the sharp brambles of a bad mood.

If I stay in this house, I’ll only snap my teeth
at beloved, well-meaning fingers
that reach to comfort, so I run
outside along the dark street
of a still-strange neighbourhood,
back straight like the fur of a frightened cat,
keys tucked between my knuckles like claws.