Fear Does this.

Written when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. Dreading what might happen.

Dark windows gaze upon a darkened street
A discrete place where shadows meet
Where shadows walk on silent feet
And no one speaks a word

An entity closes a silent gate
Before meeting others, they separate
Or pensively they stand and wait
Until the passing's occurred

Something flits between telephone poles
Something black, like a thrown coal
But winged like a burned out soul
Still no sound is heard

Another shadow stops, sniffs a tree
Raises a leg as if about to pee
Then suddenly fearful turns to flee
Threatened by some unheard word

There is a threat, hanging in the air
As if a Damoclean sword were swinging there
A fate that anyone can share
Unseen assassins with stiletto's bared

Thoughts are stilled in a blacked out mind
As if reflection would reveal the signs
Of fears corruption of a mind maligned
Peeping through a window barred

Lord, take it! Make a hole in this black cloud
Let a little light in through this deadly shroud
Or a single laugh from this silent crowd
Just to show that someone dared!