Blackbird now at midnight in confusion,

Sings to the well-lit street's misleading glow.

Stars that once at night burned in profusion,

Now his from is by city's hectic show.

Deep in the night the roaring lorries hurry,

Torn apart the ancient peace we knew.

Gone from us that balm for fear and worry,

The silence, and the great stars' wheeling show.

By Mo Petley, Bitterne, Southampton

Daily Echo poet-in-residence Pollt Clark says: "An atmospheric and well-crafted poem."

You can e-mail polly on polly.clark@soton-echo.co.uk