Requiem on Main Street

The headlights did their best
to pierce the gloom
which ebbed and flowed
and choked the streets
And the room
was all unmade-a jigsaw.
Where pieces
of the past had been mislaid.
And life now moved
to a jerky 20s beat
as the rain danced
softly on the street.
And pale blank faces
will look up
emerge from a coffee cup
and listen to some anecdote
before reaching for a coat
and standing on a doorstep fumble
for words to fit, finally mumble
"Goodbye" and turn and leave
a silence fit for any grave.
But not an end
just a change
at the most
say boy to man
say girl to woman
say Father and Son
and Holy Ghost
and admit defeat.
The wind crept slowly
down the street
and still the rain sighed.
Out of the depths, Oh Lord
I have cried....