late patrol

the silence weighs on us it feels like lead
emotions freeze in the pervading dark
the hairs stand up proclaiming total dread
but the dogs sleep and do not wake to bark
the shadows move though it is only breeze
that moves the branches and the hanging cloud
the moon is clawed at by the bare-branched trees
no one dares in this moment speak aloud
ghosts hang off in the distance gestures wild
who they are or were we cannot ever know
spirits of woman man perhaps forsaken child
emitting there a purely negative glow
the watches of the night always opress
but daylight brings us no sign of redress