Robert M. Simmons  

from Morning in Middleborough... (Poems 1991-2006)    

           Village Nocturne

At six o’clock a silver moon

    exerts its subtle will

upon the rusty railroad yard

    and the abandoned mill.

At seven o’clock bells that hang

    inside an ancient tower

are scarcely heard above the din

    as they ring out the hour.

At eight o’clock the police respond

    to a domestic call

and drag the raving husband off

    after a minor brawl.

At nine o’clock a gentle breeze

    disturbs the sylvan place

where often through the wooded paths

    loud motorcycles race.

At ten o’clock a rescue squad

    on Route Four-Ninety-Five

brings relief to some poor soul

    if he is still alive.

At eleven o’clock the lake

    is like a looking glass

reflecting galaxies above

    and lights from cars that pass.

At twelve o’clock some drunks desert

    the Center Street Café.

In their jalopies they depart

    to drink another day.

At one o’clock the river flows

    beyond time and its cares

beneath a bridge that has been closed

    for much needed repairs.

At two o’clock some teens are heard

    behind the junior high

shouting incoherent complaints

    at an impartial sky.

At three o’clock a passing cloud

    releases rain and sleet

soaking leaves scattered on the ground

    and litter in the street.

At four o’clock the weary world

    is blessed by a brief hush

until commuter trains rev up

    to join the morning rush.

                            © 2003 by Robert M. Simmons

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Subjects: poems about, small town life, Middleboro MA, satire, ballads, poetry, poems

Village Nocturne