Dark Carnival III. New Orleans Mardi Gras

Dark Carnival III

Daylight fades. An Angel spews vomit on the sidewalk.
A moan, a braying laugh.
Music scrambles into babble, along with a multitude of not-so-joyful voices.

A last chance at transfiguration slips away.
Fear creeps in, and sadness.
Is there an emptiness, a hollow ring to all the laughter?
Or did all others savor ecstasy?

At midnight, police on horseback quickly herd the crowd away.
The roar of water and mechanical street-sweepers blend with megaphones. "Mardi Gras is over, folks. Go home," they reiterate until the streets are empty---
empty except for mounds of food wrappers, condoms, beer cans, crushed against the curb.
The dream is over. The routine mask awaits.