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Into the Shadows
The city was ours
walking along the dark
dirty streets of New Orleans
hand in hand
struggling to stay close
offering protection from those things that
at any moment
may leap from a narrow alleyway
and forever separate
our common reality.
These moments are fleeting we know
but we cling to them
(it's all very useless)
as we walk
together
your arm around my waist
mine around your shoulder
we stumble through the streets
as if drunk
intoxicated by the darkness
and the stench of the city.
The shadows creep behind us
the lamplights flicker
and the shadows smile and creep closer
they are almost upon us
almost enveloping us
when we turn the corner to escape
and we hear their cursings
their promises of next time
and their laughs,
their silent laughs.
It's all so frightening
yet we walk
continuously
stopping for seconds only
then crossing the street
to safety
and realizing that
everything's okay
for now
as we walk
together
stumbling
intoxicated
oblivious to the shadows
that linger ahead.
The city was ours.
©2003 Gary C. Daniels
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