Thought Theater

I wrote the following poem while living just west of downtown Denver near the railroad tracks. I woke up in the middle of the night and as I looked out the window, I witnessed a lengthy coal train traveling through the city. As I began to write, I was thinking about the people who were working, or for whatever reason were awake throughout the night. Before going back to sleep, I finished writing this poem that I call The Keeper of the Night. I've also included a photo of the Denver skyline that I took one evening out the same window. It seemed appropriate to include the photo since it shows much of what I had seen that memorable night.

The Keeper of the Night

My mind awake, my body tired
The battle of the night is waged again
Who minds the world as it sleeps?
Was I to see and hear
The sights and sounds of slumber?
Life reversed but still alive
I watched the lights as the trains slid by
Darkened coal and metal brakes
The weight of the world moves by us, escapes
Carried by cars and crates of metal plate
The engine roars, the bell is rung
The music of the night is sung
Darkness wins in spite of the lights
From windows peer the startled few
In shadows move the people of the night
A blanket tossed upon a stoop to fight the cold
We gaze below and wonder what they think
We share the night but is that all?
The train has passed, the rumbles over
The people of the night succumb to slumber
The keeper of the night stands hidden from the light
Keys in hand, cold and metal, the lock of night secure
Never seen, he readies his retreat
I close my eyes to sleep.