Dusk falls down the roofs

And spills between the houses,

Rolls against the windows

Flows across the street,

So that lamps are lit in rooms

And at the corners.

Men arise from sitting all the afternoon

And push the darkness off their knees

To light more lights

And drive the shadow into corners.

Out of doors the night

Is more insistent, presses at the window panes

Until folk peering out

Pull down the curtains, shut the doors

Turn flickering lamps up higher.

And throw another stick upon the fire.