Midnight Dreaming

The soft melody of a sad song
snaking into the cool, damp air of the night.
A lonely, hooded busker
plinks and plucks and strums.
Dreams disperse as he softly hums,

Alone. Singing for himself, beneath the glimmering night sky.

Music enchants mollusc dancers,
Recoiling and shrinking like a curious puppy,
Like a snake charmer, they swagger and sway to him
Overcome by magic in music.
Strong rhythms reverberate against damp city walls
Snails glide and glisten in the droplet drizzling air
The busker – an orchestra conductor; the man running the show,
Snail dancers twirl on the grimy pavement like the beau and belle of a ball.

The last chord sounds; the dream ends.
Light and glory perish – he is alone again.

The busker opens his eyes.
A shivering, dirty-faced girl peeks behind a grimy wall.

The sweet melody of a smiling song
snakes again into the cool, damp air of the night.
A hopeful, hooded busker
plinks and plucks and strums.
Dreams awaken as he softly hums,

Together. Singing for a family beneath the sparkling night sky.