The Night Refuses Us Entry Poem by Raj Dronamraju

Elaine, we stepped out of our bodies
But found there was nowhere else we were allowed to go for the evening
The switchboard sky all lit up and twinkling and we seemingly banned from everywhere Invitations not so freely given out

I stepped out of my own body
And was immediately shoved against a wall by the burly evening
I received a warning and was sent on my way
There's a code for the nocturnal immigration and it goes much deeper than what you are wearing

The elusive and exclusive nightfall that holds out opportunities
Opportunities that shine like something that holds value but are more like carrots in practice
Luring us, making us move through the dark with growing hunger, with growing unease
We keep trying to barge our way in with no luck, we try to insinuate ourselves with good graces but are quickly seen through and are tossed back into the blackness

Elaine, when we were pushed backwards and away, it's as if our very existence was an irritant
It's as if our very existence couldn't be stomached by the soft interior lining of afterhours
The night is one big clique
I think we now understand we will never be one of the favorites