* The title of the poem is "inner city," which suggests that the poem is about life in an urban area.
* The phrase "Silent Nights" could be interpreted as a reference to the Christmas carol of the same name, which is often associated with peace and tranquility. However, in this poem, the phrase is used to describe the stillness of the night in the inner city, which is anything but peaceful.
* The modifier "straight as dead men" suggests that the nights are so still that they feel like death. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the lack of life and activity in the inner city at night.
pastel lights:
* The phrase "pastel lights" could refer to the soft, muted colors of the city lights at night. This could be interpreted as a contrast to the harshness and violence of the inner city, which is often depicted as a place of darkness and danger.
* The use of the word "pastel" could also suggest that the inner city is a place of beauty, even in its bleakness. This could be interpreted as a message of hope for the future of the inner city.