never seen the painting, Sue, but I don't think that matters. certainly
during my service in the Royal Air Force I have stood/ sat around during the
early hours........waiting. For a train, a bus, something but always waiting
and tired. Bob mentions Hopper being liked by poets , perhaps because he
paints that desolation so masochistically attractive as theme for poets.
Nice read Arthur.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Scalf" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 4:01 PM
Subject: new: Nighthawks
Nighthawks*
In darkness lit only by the glare
from seamless windows,
we are staring into a corner cafe
where two coffee urns reflect
fluorescent coldness
as hard as these faces—
one counter man, three customers--
each looking slantwise or down.
No one touches.
No one talks.
It could be any time,
any street, any place,
a planet circling some dying star.
It may be two a.m.; it may be New York.
We've all been there:
in that space
where people wait
for something, someone,
and a pocket of light holds us
blind and helpless,
nighthawks circling.
Sue Scalf
*based on Edward Hopper's painting of the same name
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