
Skyscraper tusks stab the sky,
unicorns prick silver holes
and score flashing arcs
across the pitch of night.
The pale medal of yesterday
swings overhead,
lulling the restless,
singing its nocturne.
And we sleep,
among the dashboard flickers,
slow breathing
our day into meaning.
Linking this to d’Verse Poets where Sarah is hosting tonight and inviting us to write a Quadrille (poem of exactly 44 words) to include the word ‘sleep’ (https://dversepoets.com/2022/05/16/quadrille-night-sleepy-times/).
I really love that final stanza. You’ve captured the city night so well here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Sarah!
LikeLike
Like this….has a Tom Waits feel to it…like it very much…so much atmosphere.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Ain – what a lovely comparison.
LikeLike
Thank you Ain. So pleased to hear it struck you that way.
LikeLike
Spot on with city nights, Marion… especially your opening line and the final stanza says it all. Love it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much Punam !
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLike
Marion, I love the creative imagery you used to describe the city skyline and the sky and your relation to it. The moon as “a pale medal of yesterday” is wow!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lisa, that so kind of you. So pleased it had that effect!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the metaphors, Marion. The medallion is my favorite. Super creative quadrille.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your creativity must be rubbing off on me! Thank you so much K.
LikeLike
Such wonderful descriptions–the tusks, unicorns, and the lingering of yesterday. A great description of city nights.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Merrill! Night-time is when fantasy visits…
LikeLike
Well, for me, only in my dreams. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes that ‘pale medal of yesterday’ lulled me into watching its hypnotic slow swing across the sky …zzz … (sound of gentle sleep-breathing)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hope you had a good night’s sleep 😊
LikeLike
So amazingly articulate! Love this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Carol, thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Really like this Marion! 🙂👍🏼
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Rob, so pleased you like it!
LikeLike
everything about this is beautiful! i especially like the reference to nocturne…one of my favorite words!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Stacy! It’s a wonderful word – agreed 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Skyscraper tusks stab the sky,
unicorns prick silver holes”
What original metaphors! Fantastic.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Shawna!
LikeLike
It does seem as if night is always flickering. (K)
LikeLiked by 2 people
I do love the idea of breathing the day into meaning!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Ingrid!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marion, I really loved this from start to finish – I think it’s one of my favorites of yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much David, that’s lovely to hear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Skyscraper tusks… love it, making the city into the beast that it is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Björn. Monsters and myths all come out at night …
LikeLike