A Night In The Middle Of A Night Poem by Clive Culverhouse

you are allowed to bring two items with you
and then you'll leave forever
we'll be back, that's all they said before they left

night was underway, things were always underway
nothing seemed to start or end
every time was in the middle
but this night was pretty
when I found myself already there
looking up at a lightshow sky

the outside, my only companion
when movement emerged between the points
of far off pinpricks and patterns
then colour began and shapes shorty after
as the swirls and spirals drew closer
I don't know exactly when the blackness
changed fully to tessellates of neon-like blocks
but amidst my threatening tremble
one landed too closely
it was all a bit too beautiful and mouth-dropping

even after all this time, a part of me is expecting
them to return as promised
even though I'm awake now
but so vivid was that night

I often wonder what two items I should choose
just in case