Nightwatchmen

They stand like movie stars
Each one silently lit to his own spot
We vibrate past them
Imagine collecting protection money
from the fish
Giggling in the rigging
Dancing about on the spit
Freelance fish warner botherers
Half moon tonight
The sad café hibernates distantly
We've gone too far
So still
With their glowering tillies
We crunch back
Realising we're angling
for a punch
in the netting