Capricious Reflections

3 AM New York
outer space peers down
Times Square luminance pulsates
like a never-ending birthday cake vigil
even as tributary streets uptown downtown
celebrate less vibrant moments
power grid’s luminous roots
continue irrigating steel and glass monoliths
trickling its non-peak-hour reserves
offering faithful presence
for any and all

buildings large and small
drink of night’s cool respite
trenchant skyscrapers doze
save insomniacs and stress-aholics
fearful of dawn
even as they suffer the night

architectural birth and rebirth
cater nightmares
restlessness
and yes
the occasional big-pharma deep-sleeper

biding Time persists
for indeed
just as the sun also rises
so too will it set again
bringing tomorrow's darkness
as scheduled

for the lonely
the sleepless
cleaners of offices
doormen pulling swing shifts
cab drivers embracing pot holes to keep awake
night is but a necessity
in order to realize another day

and

on every block
the ubiquitous homeless
wanting awareness
bestowed on their behalf
sit
lay
stand
burying their heads
in whatever at hand

to walk such streets
is to glimpse many windowed rooms of stature
but also of emptiness
life often hidden in the shadows of blank walls
even when adorned of paintings
sketched remembrances
Kodak moments
all the company of hours past
haunt the viewer to consider
and consider again
questions
no amount of dressing can eliminate

walkers of the streets
sway their heads
left to right
like the curious sense-gathering
of elephant captivity
watching the occasional resident
from lightless windows
peer skyward
knowing impending sunrise
might bring fearful reflections back

imagination remains patient

window glass now dark
awaits its chameleon moment
when daylight removes
night’s mirrored streets and avenues
and presents yet another chance
to change the perceptions anticipated
to consider once again
if we do indeed
create our own reality

the next chance is but hours away
choice remaining
ours
ubiquitous lessons
everyone

capricious reflections
existing but
for us

some…
cannot help but
rejoice