The Other Side of the Night

The long, dark, cold midwinter's night
Oft maligned as an oppression to be endured
A bane to be borne....

Not this night.
Not this night, this night that gives time;
Time to baste in the glow of a good pub discovered
To conceive a new and delicious finale to the Christmas turkey
To pack and prepare for a journey
To settle the sofa under the gaze of the TV
To sleep
Safe and warm
To cruise the heart of the city, hushed and still before awakening.

To set sail East
To meet the Sun.

On the other side of the night.