Noises In The Night (Poetry)

It’s hot tonight. The whole slow-cooking block
has got its rows of windows open wide
yet still the tropic fever has not dropped
bare-bodied couples melting side by side

complaining on and off. Their conversations rise
to mingle — each low murmur layers dark
as somewhere close a fretful baby cries
answered sharply by a fox’s bark

The air is thick and potent — stirs its noise
with some invisible and lazy spoon
frustration salts the mix then silence cloys
anticipating what must bubble soon

A rumble rolls its tongue along the hill
testing for full flavour — growling heat
sends sticky threats to enervate then thrill
the wakeful with their aching heads and feet

One minute more — the pot comes to the boil
the night is neon crackling yellow-white
raw energy runs through its pressure coil
releasing rain. The windows bang shut tight