A dark haze filled the streets

As the sun sets

Beyond the looming structures.

A drag from a shared cigarette

Between underpaid workers

Leaving the closing shift.

Night life begins

With the drizzle of lightly buzzed patrons

Mill about through the

cobblestone streets,

Long mirrors reflecting

The street lamps’

Oranges and yellows.

Cars rumble past
The bustling and booming clubs.
Blaring jazz with a
RAT. TAT TAT
Women sing along
With out-of-tune voices,
Their tight red dresses
Clinging to their bodies.

A man hunched over from long days
Working at the plant
Orders another round.
Drowning out
Memories of days gone by.
Of people never met,
Sights never scene,
Opportunities lost to youth.

Darkness hides in the shadows
In the hearts of men
Hidden in the mind of every woman
At the edge of every silhouette.