We Arrived At Night

We arrived at night,
the world beyond the windows in darkness but for occasional
lights,
the soft glow of farmhouses beyond the trees,
the baleful electric shine of the city in the distance.
It was a Mexican darkness,
different in character to the damp glooms of England.
The air blowing in through the open vent smelt of wood smoke and
incense.
A dark odour. Sacrificial.
We'd crossed the border long after sunset and the terrain was still a
mystery to me.
I smiled at you curled up in your sleeping bag.
There were dark smudges on your face but your eyes were bright,
from the days of travel behind us the excitement was palpable.
A new a land opening up before us.........