He wondered when the light left how the dark
would be forgiving. He wondered when night
grew mute, when the day’s vociferous lark
stayed silent, chattery cricket quiet,
the night’s wind ran out of its honey breath,
ancient stars doused lanterns like a banned bar,
the night impatient with all life, with death,
with legends of eternity, with cars
growling through invisible streets, those lost
quarrels of bitter lovers sapped from air
like hope from a black hole, desperate cost
of an unkept promise, an unsaid prayer.
He was tired of it all. Would never seek
it again. Tried to curse, but couldn’t speak.
Roger Armbrust
July 15, 2020
