January 1

A lonesome wail broke
through the night,
a siren's urgent plea.
The streets were quiet
at that hour,
the wail became a cry;
the ambulance sped by.
New Year's Eve
1:45
the first victim fell.
The cycle does not
start or end
because we ring the bell.

Copyright © 2009 by Karl W. Swartz.  All rights reserved.