Owl Time Rag

4AM stepping out with dog
in my night gown
under a glitter ball moon
owls commented
"oooh look at her"
"she'll get cold"
From the kitchen refuge for the shy
distant lights twinkled
like girls who had been asked

Down by the railway
men marched from right to left
another damn the depression lets do it
another defiant show of lights

But these were no nodding Santas
but orange jumpsuits walking the line
hefting a hammer
glimpsed in strobe lighting
like Soviet steelworkers
thinking perhaps of a warm van
a prawn sandwich
next Saturday's natty spats
and dancing black shoes