Five Minutes Before Close

Wind howls low o'er frozen ground
stars shimmer in the distance, dancing
joyous for the absence of the moon tonight
each breath is needles stabbing the throat
lights on the street betray the absence of life
store-fronts bare, bathed in neon glow
dirt lots in between, dust is blown
time rots in a dream, nothing is known
Smoke drifts far in between absent faces
the air chills to bone, enhancing
a feeling creeping to your heart, a moan
dreading the coming of emotional snow