Within the Night

I feel at home within nightfall,
our bright star's cyclic curtain call.
I feel at ease 'cause in the end,
comes darkness calling for us all.

The endless blue above the clouds
reaches down so it enshrouds
this weary traveler, late at night,
and keeps me hidden from the crowds.

The darkness is my truest friend.
And in the dark, I can pretend
the morning light will never come,
but all too soon the sun ascends.

But even so, I must remark,
the sun's our planet's matriarch.
And without light, there is no dark.
And without light, there is no dark.

Author's Note

Written with love for Robert Frost and the night.

Reviews

[LastMonth]

Catchy and enjoyble.
I served in the navy until not long ago (My country's navy, obviously.)
One of the best things was kicking back during the night shifts, which were long and tidious, and just..
Stargaze.

Enjoy the darkness.
The calm of the sea (When it was calm!) and bask in the nothingness of the world as it goes to sleep.
Your poem speaks of darkness both literal and abstract, both of them I adore. Not out of sadness or a need to hide, but due to it's beauty.

Your poem is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful phenomenon.

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you very much ☺ I didn't recognize anything more than you have as well. I guess creative minds think alike? Ha ha

[Alice Poésy]

Your words managed to pull me out of my chair and placed me into Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' painting.

I often am surrounded by people who prefer the day over the night, so I rejoiced when I found this and felt right at home. Nothing like the stars and whispers of the night. The darkness is indeed my truest friend.

Your rhyme scheme is out of this world and your pen is a paintbrush. I feel blessed to have across your work.

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you very much for your kind review ☺ I like how you felt you were within a Van Gogh painting as you read this piece; what a great way to interpret it! I love hearing how a poem is uniquely experienced by its readers. It's my favorite part of poetry. Once again, thank you for your flattering review 😊

[Lorry]

This is beautifully evocative of my own protective cover of the night, where glances are cast at the ground and staying in the shadows is the safest place to be. Unseen may be lonely, but safe.
This has an almost lullaby quality to it that plays well into the repeated end line, almost hearing the sigh at the end. Superb.

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you so much ☺ I too view darkness as a sense of safe solitude. Some people worry about what may be lurking in the dark, but I know it's just me 😉

[Lorry]

You're welcome :)

[Zugzwang]

What did I like about this poem? Well, it's well crafted, as always. The poem's lyrical quality is very songlike, and its regular meter is , frankly, soothing. It's iambic tetrameter, right? Nice!
I really enjoyed the night sky/curtain metaphor, and found it very evocative, I got the sense of a sensuous velvety thing enveloping and concealing. But in the last stanza, we have a positive, life affirming, turn with the final repetitive couplet. I like repetition when it's done well, and it is. Great stuff!
z.

[Gaia Octavia]

Indeed it is. And this is one of my faves I think, if I can be so self-absorbed as to pat myself on the back. Thank you very much for your kind review ☺

[Zugzwang]

It's one of your best. I think it's publishable.

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you indeed ☺

[James]

This is really good, of course, everything you write is really good. I love the idea of darkness being your friend, without the usual use of darkness in writing. There is no hint of depression or death here, except maybe once, but it wasn't with any sadness. lovely flow and I love the repeating lines in the end.

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you very much ☺ you are too kind but I'm glad you liked it

[Papaya]

This is super Gaia! I love the flow and the rhyme and your word choices.
And the message too, I've sometimes felt more comfortable in the darkness for the simple reason that I can hide, and also hide my flaws...

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you very much for your kind words. Being able to hide is always a comfort for me so I know what you mean ☺

[Papaya]

You're welcome. :)

[Luisa König]

I really like the rhythm of your rhyme. These lines would make great lyrics for a song! x

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you ☺

[GalaxyGhost]

That last two lines are my favorite! In addition, without sadness, we never knew happiness. Without pain, we never knew peace. I could go on, but I'll stop right there.

Great poem and I loved it!

[Gaia Octavia]

Thanks very much ☺

[GalaxyGhost]

You're welcome!

[Joel]

enjambment and repetition: I like it and a vigorous embrace of dark instead of light. You maintain rhythm and rhyme which nobody does anymore because they don't have to. Way to be awesome anyway!

[Gaia Octavia]

Thank you very much! I look forward to checking out your work later today to return the favor of a review ☺