Poetry by Dianne Thomas
The night belongs
to bats and rats
and alley cats
to coons and possums
and moonflower blossoms
to kids in cars
who frequent the bars
to cruise and drink
and do the things they only think
about in daytime
when they must tow the line
to earn their keep
and only dream of sleep
to do as we did
when we were kids
our candles burning at both ends
shunning family to be with friends
dancing, laughing, singing
our ears ringing
as we moved into the street
with the world at our feet
or so we thought
until happiness could not be bought
with charm or looks
we couldn’t even get our hooks
on real affection
discovering life’s true complexion
and slowly we turned
to what could be earned
in sunlit hours
in concrete towers
to a daily grind
always keeping top of mind
the whistle blow
the freedom to go
but now to the nest
to be at rest
with comforts we’ve gained
because we’ve strained
for one more day
with dreams put away
till nightfall ends the pain
and bats and rats and alley cats
rule again
Dianne Thomas is a Detroit-based writer whose work has appeared in Octavo, Flashquake, The Threepenny Review, and other online and print publications.
