Late into the night where the shadows fall, br there to be found the secrets br of all the pain kept locked in a jar during the day. br Lights glisten with unending glow br of temporary words spoken by br strangers passing by. br Moon stands pregnant in the sky br surrounded by the stars br who show no concern br for the walking outlanders rushing br undressed into the wind. br Noises flutter in the breeze of the night br caressing pictures of stationary silhouettes br kept solid in the dream they survived. br Late into the illusion comes the dancing br mockers insisting that everything real must br be discarded so that the pretence of reality br can be surrendered to the soldiers of time. br I'm aching in body where the disease has struck br which has opened my eyes to the serenity br of dying. Dark images tenderly drown br themselves in buckets of blood that have been br left lonely on the porch. Open the door and br let the shadows come in. Let the jumping jacks br begin their playing while the blankets of deceit br are thrown casually upon the blooming plants br of destruction. At the corner of my mind is br the truth I have been hiding which now arrives br with force unknown to me. I am strangled. I br am defeated. There are no more clouds left to br grow upon.br br Chris G.