The children are all listless
All through the day
Seeming to exist in
A purely lip service way,
Self effacing and quiet
As though keeping out of sight
But there comes a sudden change
With the coming of the night.
Those same children seemingly
Listless and rundown,
Suddenly acquire a restless energy
With the coming of sundown.
In ones and twos and groups
They gather in the city centre
Silently they stand and watch
As their peers quickly enter.
When, as if at a given signai
They form a massed rank
Eyes fixed and staring
Facial expressions blank
Not a sound issued
No attempt at talk
They move off in unison
In a rhythmic stylised walk
As they slowly progress
Roving up and down
As though being directed
All around the town.
As first light approaches
They seem to shake their heads
And in a dazed subdued fashion
Return to unslept in beds.
The children are listless
As the day moves on
Until as sunset approaches,
Daylight almost gone.
Once again they gather
And, as a synchronised whole
Almost as though some entity
Has quietly taken over control.
The children, the children
All in a trance strong and deep
Nightly roam across the town
When they should really be asleep.
