The Starless Nothing

This poem is over 7 years old now. It's probably my oldest poem that I still show people.

It’s a nice evening.

With the sun gone

the light pollution casts a dull glow across the atmosphere.

Like it has no business there

but nowhere else to be.

And as for the stars

you won’t see many here.

They’ve all escaped the stratosphere.

From where I am, I can see the whole city

all its splendors softened in my nearsightedness.

I’m sitting in a leather chair older than I am.

My back porch illuminated by my kitchen window.

In front of me glows a plastic pink flamingo.

I listen to the crickets scraping their sleepless sonata.

They sing at night because the birds do all the singing during the day.

On evenings like these

they seem like nightly apparitions;

Ghosts of a harmonic memory

now just remnants of sirens over the barking of dogs.

I lean back and look at the near-dark sky

scarcely littered with random residual star things

casting a lonely radiance through that faded black veil

as if wanting to remain,

but are being pushed away.

The rest must have fallen

because from where I am now,
all the starlight's on the ground.

I close my eyes and think I might like to die this way.

Peaceful, with singing and light all around me.

The big twist ending being

that I was alive the whole time.

We all get like this I suppose.

At least, I hope so.

I want moments like this to be important.

To know that it’s not always nothingness above me

and that there are still stars somewhere.

In my mind, like a slow breeze

She lingers.

Wandering into my thoughts

heavy with sighs

and lasting.

I wonder, as I often do

how I can write her into poetry.

Some words are beyond me

and even at my best

I fall just short of describing what she means to me.

She is an anthology of speechlessness.

I know the words are out there.

I gave her a Christmas card once.

Inside was a note.

A short message, written in prose.

I was taking the chance to prove

that I don’t care about being embarrassed

by the way that I feel about her.

I don’t remember what I wrote.

I know it was really lame.

But it was honest.

Words written by shaking hands.

I suppose it must have been charming somehow.

Looking up at the sky
I think I can see more stars,

but after a moment I see that they are airplanes,

and I smile

like the victim of some sort of celestial prank.

I watch it slow glide in and out of view

through the blurry silhouette of a tree

before closing my eyes and imagining

(Of all things)

        being abducted by aliens.

Being swept away from the earth

looking through a large window

watching our little blue, hazy planet getting smaller

And smaller

And smaller

And like reverb in the back of my mind I hear

“Come Sail Away.

Come Sail Away.”

The last thing I see before venturing off into the starless nothing,

like a slow breeze,

is her face.

Just as silent, as the surviving constellations

but clear as crystal-

sharp as shrapnel.

I open my eyes, back on my porch again.

In a black leather chair, older than I am.

Heavy with sighs.

I try again to find words

but they're not here.

They're not even this.

But, it’s a comfortable evening

nonetheless.

Author's Note

I was pensive, and love struck. I was daydreaming without my glasses on. It has gone through many revisions over the years, but this revision would be the first one I consider a "Version 2". Don't mind the length.

Reviews

[Amelie]

What I love about your style is that, there is a celestial profoundness (which indicates your mastery of the language) in every stanza; In film, we call it "set pieces", these are well- directed, elaborate scenes that has a lot of pizzazz in it, making it appear almost independent from the rest of the scenes (there's no better way I can think of on how to describe it, than a gorgeous set piece). Your tone has a signature whip- smart spontaneity in it, without trying to sound smart-a*s (natural, seemingly first- thought, sporadic with class), that makes you smile to the little thought of it.I must say, you're definitely one of the most commendable poets around here. You are a master of free verse my friend. As to the piece, well what more can I say... I was swooned again by your utter brilliance.

[paradoxical]

I really liked this. "An anthology of speechlessness..." I don't think I have ever read a better description for something indescribable. If that makes any sense. I am horrible at reviews. Sorry! Just wanted to say thanks for sharing. It's a great poem.

[Who Cares]

Wonderful imagery, and it sounds so peaceful. Nice read :D

[Destinyxi]

You're extremely good at writing description, which take it from me, not everyone is (including myself haha). Really good job :)

[Yari Garcia (Older Prof..]

You're a great writer. You really created a clear picture in my mind. I don't mind the length because it was interesting from beginning to end.

[Dearantlers]

WOW! That was amazing. I loved how you told such a good story in a poem. It was perfect. And the aliens were pretty darn cool. You have a real gift with writing poetry.

[Aditi Mahajan]

it is soothing and peaceful! amazing!

[khalid]

although it was long, i havent felt that because of enjoying reading it..

[MoriartyMesa]

I am always amazed how your flow can be in the area of Metal Music, this was more of a balled in my mind, maybe (just maybe) Journey?

[joshua deathdealer]

I really liked this. Nice creativity. It was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.