Silent night

Silent night

shudders to the flickering film
of marching booted worries
the mocking salutes of fluttering bills
requests (thinly veiled threats)
obstacles to flight into lighter air
calmer waters
to sleep

and the silence weighs heavier than oceans
though the night-singing birds
though the moon

that sinks inexorably into the pale grey
mediocrity of dawnlight
and the aggressive distant rumble
of steel-jawed traffic.