By Noel Ihebuzor –
The evening limps on dragging feet
slowly, the enlarging darkness of night
overruns the day
urging the dying day to bed and rest
the lights die out
as silence enfolds the enveloping darkness
and she waits
Time crawls on millipede feet
seconds last long like sluggish minutes
sadness and worry rest heavy
heavy on her restless pacing feet
(occasionally stamping feet)
as a damp blanket
Between pacing, stamping and sitting,
she stays on, stays up, eyes heavy
soul heavier, spirit drooping
wrestling with the harsh hands
of hurt and reality
that now strangle her dreams
and choke her soul
she checks the hum of every passing car
ears straining and acute
hearing the silent footfalls of footless spirits
responding to the call of the night
as they glide to their nocturnal haunts
And she wishes she could go forth like them
but she cannot
worry has hollowed her eyes
self pity erodes her soul
creeping doubt slowly strangles her self confidence
but courage and hope prop her up
and she wonders which company keeps him today
what outside tall tales inspire his loud laughter
what colored claws and lips
trace well perfected caresses on his frame
and bring sparkles and glitter
to his otherwise dead eyes
and she wonders
where all that intensity has flown
where, how, why and when
all that “we go die together” died,
where it was buried….
and she wonders and worries
as her mind wanders, and waits and hopes
and she sits, stands, sits,
sighs and waits…
waiting for the car lights in the drive way
for the well feigned contrition, the well rehearsed tales,
the unreliable car, the low battery…..
dreading the smell of alcohol and strange perfumes
and just wondering how long…yes, just how long before!
Reflections 