too high

the stars seem to realise

they tumble

along the cobbles

the night air full of fresh chills

a gift unwraps

night breezes

in the sigh of the river

between blue shadows

strangers are busy

at the edge of the vast night

with small talk

long ago secrets

the deep scent of the river

strangers walk on

night-time mosaics

a yellow daub of streetlights

over blue ripples

boats rock to and fro

and slap the waves in their moorings

as knots creak… creak…

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This poem was written in response to Carpe Diem #663, Starry Night (Van Gogh), another great prompt hosted by Chèvrefeuille at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai. All of the poems in the link-up can be read here. These haiku relate to the painting that leads this post, “Starry Night over the Rhone”, which was taken from Wikimedia. Sometimes you just have to go with what’s staring you in the face and so, to finish, here’s Don McLean –