The night is a lonely beast
With snow that falls like flowers
Wrapping city in cold quiet
Falling like deathly showers
Rap music on radio
Textures under brush
Paint it red and rusted
Destroy it with my touch
Empty is this room
Dark is in my heart
Light only creates shadow
Black is now this art
I will paint it bitter
And scream into the night
Only silent witness
Create until hate comes to light
Sometimes it’s a dream
Or a nightmare come to life
But it is all and only mine
By dark and palette knife
Brush brings out the shadow
Words bring out the fire
Pencil defines the cutting edge
Ink fuels dark desire
Now the night, the lonely beast
Roams fast, near, and free
In the silent shadowy streets
In the depths of me
©2019 James Takeo
The Black Lantern 