Yellow Street Lights

Lately I’ve noticed the streetlights are changing
The lights I grew up with
The dim amber hued sodium vapor bulbs
Are being traded in for bright glaring LED’s
I am unhappy with this change
The old bulbs radiate a quiet glow that
Wrapped the streets of my city in a warm embrace
Just bright enough to see but still dark enough to hide
The earthy golden hues nicely complimented the local foliage
Arcing palm trees swaying Spanish moss
All gently dodged by phosphorescent tones
The new bulbs, however, are not the same
They are loud and garish
They shine far brighter than is necessary
And make residential street corners look more like
The perimeter of a prison watchtower
They are intrusive
A violation of my senses
Evening walks and bicycle rides won’t be the same
These precious moments of meditation now disturbed
By piercing unnatural beams
They are omnipresent
They are invaders
But ultimately
I fear these lights are but a single wave of a much greater flood
Yellow street lights
Beneath lonely night skies
All my life
Please don’t leave me
Yellow street lights
On quiet evening rides
All my life
Please stay with me