I am the hushed secret that roams around the streets at night. Around the time when the world is fast asleep safe and sound in their beds. I leisure in layers of lust, unraveling desire in the depths of city streets; hear the wind blow whispers as though attempting to apprise righteous men. I smirk as scent of smoke and liquor greet me behind windows closed, bathe in delight when payment doubles regardless of seasons that come and go.
I watch in bewilderment hovering near the balcony, mulling over the scene which I had just witnessed. Its strange how our entire perception of the world changes in a matter of seconds. The city though it appears impeccant to the naked eye, turns out to have tales unspoken, which come out only when the clock chimes after eleven.
Moonlight streaked in angst
silhouette of sycamore trees
sanguineness disappears
when actions contradict ethos
when excess outwits morals
Photo credits: A glimpse of after-dark in Karachi. ( taken 2 years ago)
Posted for Haibun Monday @ dVerse Pub
Posted on Tuesday Platform @ Real Toads
This is wonderful Sanaa…Your prose is just the perfect one, almost that of a predator… the voice of a cities, the reason we shut the door at night…
Thank you so much, Bjorn 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
I’m so glad to read it again
❤️
Stunning prose and poetry that depicts so well the underside of life in city–the desperation. Nice response to the prompt.
Thank you so much, Victoria ❤️ so glad you liked it 🙂
I really like this halibun. Well done.
Thank you kindly, Arcadia 🙂
A beautiful opening prose and poem depicting the darkeness of the city. I specially admire the ego of lust and evil, roaming when the clock chimes after eleven. A terrifying tale & woe to the person caught and trapped ~
Thank you so much, Grace ❤️ so glad you liked it 🙂
Geesh, that good!
ZQ
Thank you kindly, ZQ 🙂
“Its strange how our entire perception of the world changes in a matter of seconds. ”
oooh. there is something haunting about your prose and i love it. 🙂
Thank you so much, Rosemarie ❤️ good to see you 😀
Unveiling “darkness of the city-life”, post the time of an “applauded city life”… well written Sanaa 😉 You really play well with words, loved your poem too 🙂
Thank you so much, Vijita ❤️ so glad you liked it 🙂
A great title and I really like the first prose paragraph, Sanaa, particularly; ‘I am the hushed secret that roams around the streets at night’ and ‘I leisure in layers of lust, unraveling desire in the depths of city streets’ and ‘I smirk as scent of smoke and liquor greet me behind windows closed, bathe in delight when payment doubles’: all very evocative of a lady of the night. The first two lines of the poem echo this in a subtle way – lovely!
Thank you so much, Kim ❤️ so glad you liked it 🙂
The secrets seen in the dark are merely a drop in the torrent of desires cloaked behind closed doors. I really liked your prose and the sense of shock and dismay conveyed.
Thank you so much, Brian 🙂 good to see you ❤️
“I am the hushed secret that roams around the streets at night.” That is so good.
Thank you so much, Debi 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
I like how you’ve shown the observer an obscured city picture, some things hidden, secretive. Branching out your poetry with this one
Thank you so much, Laura ❤️ for your kind and loving words 🙂
xo
Very well written Sanaa, I love how you personify the secrets of city nights.
Thank you kindly, Xenia ❤️ good to see you 🙂
Some cities never sleep, & the night people seem to be a different breed. Somehow they get away with a lot more mischief & harm after dark, /when actions contradict ethos/–true that indeed.
Thank you so much, Glenn 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Oh I love how you’ve given the night this eerie voice, showing us what lies in the shadows and leaving much to the imagination as well. Very evocative.
Thank you so much, Michelle ❤️ so nice to see you 🙂
Your voice here is like a movie, depicting the nuances of every haunting, chilling, and salacious scene. Spectacular work and poem at the end. You brought me right there with you every step of the way. ❤️
Thank you so much, Mother Wintermoon ❤️ so glad you liked it 😀
turns out to have tales unspoken,
which come out only when the
clock chimes after eleven.
The unearthly hour for most but many only commence activities at that hour. Perhaps nocturnal creatures need the dark to survive!
Hank
Definitely 😉 thanks for stopping by, Hank 🙂
Moonlight streaked with angst.. loved that image…
Thank you so much, Rajani 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
Beautifully expressed.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so good to see you ❤️
A city definitely changes their face at night and things that are shy of light appear. Beautifully captured
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Tradlos ❤️
love the combo: prose with poem. good read.
Thank you so much, MNL 🙂 so glad you enjoyed it ❤️
The things we can see when we stop looking with our eyes alone tend to be almost shocking… and so very telling.
The alliteration in the 3rd sentence works really well.
Thank you so much, Magaly 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
when actions contradict ethos
when excess outwits morals
The unexpected naughtiness will have their say. It is all a question of asking and moralizing of the unexpected opportunities! Wonderful wordcraft Sanaa!
Hank
Thank you so much, Hank 🙂 so glad you liked it ❤️
You personify the temptation to excess that comes with nightfall so vividly. Love how you extend the meditation in the tanka!
Thank you so much, Frank 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️