in the alcove of an abandoned shop
laid out in dishevelled dreams
on top of improvised bedding
desperate for sleep
clutched by each other
desperate for sleep
tattered, battered, torn
desperate for sleep
as the upright people
turn out from the last train
from theatres, bars
the queues for clubs
another police siren cuts into the drunken chattering
desperate for sleep
a gaggle of others
living close
to the lip of the gutter
rage and rail
against who knows what
even they do not know
shouting obscenities
at everyone
anger at everything
soon they too will be desperate for sleep
as the hail returns
with lightning, thunder
storm water rushes the street
desperate for sleep
imploring the heavens
Let us sleep!
Please let us sleep!
as the upright people head home to their beds
~
n.b. Ukraine asks for urgent peace talks, like the weary people of the street asking the sky for respite from the oppressive heat of summer, from the insufferable hail storms of the night.
CLP 20/07/2025
Journey of Words 