Venus Rising

With cries fading in my mind I awoke
Pushed aside the curtains, hoping to see
The stars fading, the dense and funereal smoke
Of night merging, the sun returning to me
Bringing the chatter of voices from downstairs
Sending shadows scuttling like crabs into corners
Stalk-eyes unblinking, still and silent in their lairs
Ready to assume the black solemn garb of mourners
When Venus rises pale and naked in the sky
Burning away colour, bleaching skin ghastly white
Splicing my skull like an evil eye
Scorching grass pitch-black in her silent flight
But the world's still silent, shadows still run
And I must sit and wait for morning to come.