A Manhattan Lullaby

Nighthawks by Edward Hopper

A Manhattan Lullaby

A glass of Champaign,
A gorgeous suit,
A smirk and a smile.
You won me over.

Under the flickering neon signs,
I said yes, to the gentle question,
and opened the door
to a new world that I barely knew.

How romantic!
How courageous!
How—
foolish.

Once a charming young man
You were—
I thought I wasn’t good enough.
I wonder what you thought of me—

Sugar,
You used to call me.
I love you,
you said.

Honey,
I do too.
But not in a wordless house,
Not with the soulless eyes.

Honey, please,
Yell at me!
Hit me!
When I made—the mistake.

I still remember that blank stare,
You didn’t even give me a frown.
Where was the love?
I failed to find.

Silence—
hurts,
You know?