It was late, for here.
Late enough all our homes were asleep,
Shut down for the night,
There were no pedestrians or cars,
only traffic signals that stuttered, blinking a single color.
Every door in town was locked, despite limited threat,
as clever thieves have moved to the Big city
Storefronts were quiet, save their advertisements, faded and hushed in tone.
so as not to violate curfew.
The flags by the courthouse faced down, as if in prayer
solemn, waiting for sunrise and a breeze.
.