Shadows

Between tall shadows in the narrow street,
yellow light falls from curtained panes
and, where it collects in recesses and nooks,
imagined shadows of naked girls
comb mermaid hair and in waxen hands
lift beeswax breasts to the kiss of light.

But since fog hurts and stones grow cold
and light turns brown behind closed blinds,
these girls disappear late in the night,
replaced by others in collared coats
who, warmed by smoke from cigarettes,
stand under the street lamps in foggy light.