Nocturnal Refugees, by Edilson Afonso Ferreira

Nighthawks, by Edward Hopper (USA) 1942

Nocturnal Refugees
  
Night that brings with itself lack of love, 
hesitation on living, even fear, as escaping  
and fleeing from world’s demands. 
Night passing far away from others not long ago, 
paraphrased by so many poets always praising, 
since ancient times, beauty of mutual warmth
and human complicity.
People hidden in a furtive safety of a dull bar,
unable to come out of their shells and share   
some good news, perhaps hidden desires or 
love secrets, yet distrust and uncertainties. 
Yet unable to reach that souls’ communion, 
entire and unique humans’ purpose,
fearful to break supposed barriers, 
walls and fences separating us. 
Where the firmness of our ancestors, never afraid  
to penetrate dangers of dark and haunted nights? 
Where the joy and smiles, where the words that had spoken 
their dreams and drawn their desires? 
Words and desires that built the world they bequeathed us
which we are about to lose, deaf and dumb for its beauties. 
Unhappy and disinterested, we will transfer to our sons 
only aridity and dryness, our aloofness and our despair.
 
Edilson Afonso Ferreira

This poem was first published in Young Ravens Literary Review. 

A Brazilian poet, Edilson Afonso Ferreira, 82, writes in English rather than Portuguese. Largely published in international literary journals, by about 400 different publications, he began writing at age 64, after he retired from a bank.  He is a Pushcart Prize nominee and the author of Lonely Sailor and Joie de Vivre. He is always updating his literary blog at www.edilsonmelofereira.com