Night at St. Cloud

There are those of us who can never first experience that in which we want most, rather trapped to only gaze upon it as if in night. Thanks to Edvard Munch for his inspiration 'Night at St. CLoud'

Jacques sits in the darkness 

another long and lonely night 

he looks out at the river and street 

from his second story window 

watches the evening go by 

steady clip and the clop 

a wagon slowly travels by 

he can see that it carries fruit 

for the market next morn 

no doubt traveled from Bordeux 

a giggle and a laugh 

his head turns back on forth 

but nothing is on the street 

then, out of the fog 

a river boat appears 

two lovers are embracing 

keeping balance on the prow 

boat bumps into the river-wall 

man in full cape and top hat 

flips a coin to a man at the back of the boat 

lovers step off 

boat eases back into the fog 

man turns to the girl 

she cannot be older than eighteen 

leans forward to kiss her 

Jacques leans back in the darkness 

fearing that he might be seen 

lovers lean against a gas lamp 

pale yellow light sickly against 

fog and the dark of midnight 

they kiss again 

she closes her eyes and leans back 

the man kisses her neck 

she whispers something laughs 

the couple walks off into the fog 

Jacques stands up 

puts his scarf, overcoat, and tophat on 

shines his walking cane 

sits back into his chair in front of the window 

and looks again into the night

--william paris