vespers of neon

arqios

 

Vespers of neon 


The night loosens its grip as we step out,
streets still washed in the last colours of neon,
a soft shimmer running along its gutters
like a river deciding whether to keep going
or give itself over to morning.

 

A warm breath moves through the quiet blocks,
not an old enchantment now,
but something gentler,
as if the city itself were exhaling after the long hours,
letting us glide through its half-lit corridors
with the ease of dancers who know the floor by heart.

 

We drift past corners without hurry,
letting the world slide a little under our feet,
the sky paling just enough to hint at what’s coming
but not enough to break the spell.
Somewhere far off, a tune from the night before
tries to rise again, softer now,
as though it knows it’s time to step aside.

And in this almost-morning,
before the first edge of light finds us,
we move through the last of the neon’s glow
with a quiet certainty
that the night has not ended-
only changing its shape.

 

 

 

 

 


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Comments +

Comments8

  • sorenbarrett

    A wonderful vision presented in this poem of linked images. So well written Cryptic a fave

    • arqios

      Thanks Soren. 🙏🕊️

      • sorenbarrett

        Most welcome my friend

      • Friendship

        well written

        • arqios

          Thanks Friendship 🙏🕊️

        • nephilim56 ( Norman Dickson)

          much enjoyed my friend

          • arqios

            Thanks, Norman, much appreciated dear friend.🙏🕊️

          • orchidee

            Good write A.

            • arqios

              Thanks O

            • Tristan Robert Lange

              My friend, this is deeply immersive writing. The neon reflections, the slow exhale of the city, the almost-morning atmosphere…all of it creates this beautiful sense of transition without rupture. I especially loved the closing thought that the night is not ending, only changing shape. That feels true far beyond the poem itself. Excellent work, arqios. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛

              • arqios

                It is reminiscent of night owl days and the nightlife that defined days of youth, when 24-hour establishments were far and few between. 🙏🕊️

              • David Wakeling

                Wow now this is whad I'm talkin' bout. T.S Eliot without the despair.There is a hopeful feeling through thsi journey through the night. Well done compadre.I enjoyed reading

                • arqios

                  We weren’t in desperation, a tad lost perhaps and we weren’t vampiric either but ever slightly toward zomboid ( only because of the buzz of sleep deprivation) but making the night as day from mid 70s-90s was a real magical time. Thanks compadre 🙏🏻🕊️

                • Goldfinch60

                  Wonderful words Rik, that light will always return though.

                  Andy

                  • arqios

                    It will, yes 🙏🏻🕊️

                  • Neville



                    Excellent & how I so wish I had got to that last stanza first .. Neville

                    • arqios

                      A privilege dear Nev 🙏🏻🕊️



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