Night in the City

Ellen Margaret Janson

I hear them pass by the wall of my garden-
The swift whisper of silk,
And laughter-
Tinkling like the wind-bells on the shadowy terrace,
Tinkling and calling.

Their lanterns form a necklace
Of gems,
                            Ellen Margaret Fanson

Low-strung across the dusk.
Their laughter dies away past the wall of my garden.
In the willow
The echo lingers-
The echo of laughter, failing
Into sudden weariness.