Villanelle: Beneath the Shroud of Night

Villanelle

It’s emptiness that makes me such an easy prey
I drag my hollow heart through rain-filled streets
Beneath the shroud of night, by loneliness betrayed.

My days are solitude upon the Milky Way
Night brings the cool seduction of the balance sheet
It’s emptiness that makes me such an easy prey

The stars themselves descend the back street stairway
Searching for some quiet place to be discrete
Beneath the shroud of night, by loneliness betrayed.

The mercenary gesture in their negligees
My heart an open book without one word of speech
It’s emptiness that makes me such an easy prey

So bittersweet a loving that must be prepaid!
My mouth is dry, my heart shakes from each pounding beat
Beneath the shroud of night, by loneliness betrayed.

The ticking clock prevents all unplanned overstays
Do longings echo in the sound of shuff’ling feet?
It’s emptiness that makes me such an easy prey
Beneath the shroud of night, by loneliness betrayed.

~