Noir

Musings about the different shades of Black.

Blackness has its shades
Rampant swirling waves
Often Blackness fades
Often light it craves

Black's the Void of Space
So is Silken Night
Black is fall from grace
Black, a leper's plight

Black is Death's own cloak
Black Holes feed on light
Black is acrid smoke
Black pupils give us sight

Blackness is not dark
Blackness is a door
Flints at night did spark
Man could then explore

All the Blackness shown
By the dark inspires
Teaching not to moan
But to ignite fires

Life is a palette fair 
By thousand hues adorned
Mixed by Him with care
And Black was never scorned

Reviews

[S]

It is often associated with evil and darkness, the color black. People always cast aside black from their happy moments. Only remembered in gloomy times. That being said, I feel that black always reaches out for light. Always absorbing the radiance. Trying to get its share of good things which has always been denied to it. I like how the ultimate stanza represent the unbiased nature of God towards the socially excludes color. Its a beautiful poem.

[Augustus]

Thank you for your perceptive review Sayrandhri!

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

White is the presence of all colors and reflects light, while black is the absence of color and absorbs light. The darkest of moments tend to reflect beauty if we but look for it. I think a bit of both makes the best of writers, the best of humankind.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Such a majestic colour to behold!...

You stir the old perception of "Black" and give it life...
fueling the fire of enlightenment... It's has integrity like none other...

Bold words for a Bold color... written with conviction! Bravo!

[Augustus]

Thank you so much, Robbie! Pretty old poem this, four years old actually. Was my first poem on WC. :)

[Robbie~xoxo~]

I think it's definitely a classic!... always nice to read your work of art... your intelligence shines within every line. :)

[Augustus]

You honour me. Thank you so much! :)

[Robbie~xoxo~]

You are most welcome... it's always a pleasure.. :)

[An owl on the moon]

Such sacred blackness... the depth of these shades... and how the one in my soul is teaching me to embrace both the light and the dark of the world... the sun and the stars... What profound words to enrich us, my friend.. truly..

[Augustus]

Thank you Craig!

[emmajoy]

Like all colours there are shades, so, needy individuals should be able to find what's right, what's comfortable. There's a space in every colour, surely, where smiles and tears mingle either from relief or excitement or a mix of both. Seems your Black has found its own way because of your ability to see light in everything or at least, most. For me, emergining from the mid-black of a comforting night is a sign of another day of life..

Wonderful prosody, thoughts scattered freely, graphically, and as always, in your thoughtful stylish manner.

[Augustus]

Thank you so much, Emma! :)

[max_vonnegut]

I enjoy reading noir fiction so I read this because of the title, I thought: this has got to be good.
And it turned out to be an awesome and interesting piece. I think you're description for the poem helps to guide the reader. For me the last four lines hold the most meaning. I understood it to mean that He created all the colors including black but we (human race) have made black a sinister color representing our own evil actions in this world. So to us, black is a reminder of the evil that we have done and we are ashamed so we scorn it... But God doesn't scorn black, what he does scorn is our evil actions! What a thought!
You're an awesome poet, thank you for sharing. This a perfect 100 for me.

[Augustus]

Thank you for your wonderfully perceptive review Max! You have indeed captured the sentiments that I wished to express.

[max_vonnegut]

You're welcome man!

[Chandradhish Ghosh]

Shreyas...this is again a great work. I love the way you start with "Black" in almost all your lines...I personally like a black a lot...it's enigmatic in a mysterious way. The grammar of your poem is perfect...abab scheme is justified and moreover your vivid imagery with "black" is commendable. The only thing I am not in sync with is the title of your poem. But I'm sure you have your justification towards it.

"Black is Death's own cloak
Black Holes feed on light
Black is acrid smoke
Black pupils give us sight "

This is my favourite stanza...I don't know if you would agree with me. But contrary to popular belief, I believe darkness (read "black") is totally raw and pure...even if someone hides in darkness...darkness does not lose its purity. Cheers!

[Augustus]

Thank you for your very interesting review, CD! Raw and Pure, well yes by itself, darkness is certainly raw and pure. I think we often try to dilute it by trying to cover it up with a bit of light. But I imagine life would get very difficult indeed if the untempered raw side of it came out too often. As far as the title goes, I felt the French version has more mystique to it, but of course, you are entitled to view it differently. Thanks again! And I'll stop by your works soon.

[Lady B]

Your poetic writing is wonderful, it takes one into another world so captivating thanks for sharing.

[joshua deathdealer]

This is a subject that I spend a lot time musing and pondering. Darkness does seem like the way into the light. There must be void in order for there to be filled. Death is an angel. Make no mistake about it. Brilliant.

[Augustus]

There must indeed be a void, before it gets filled. Thanks a lot for your wise and kind words.

[Sheila Kline]

In your poem, "Noir" I note a perfection in form which I always respect! The message you convey presents the reader a positive view of something that is too often considered negative with explanation enough to present and prove the reasons for such an opinion!

I have done some study of the color of black as it is the black dog that is most often left in the shelters to be later euthanized, so after having adopted several all white, or white mixed dogs I realized the truth of it and wanted to do something to help the plight of the "big, black dog". The dog I have now is a beautiful, sleek, black female, and I have even written a poem of her and her color.

I had pleased you have chosen the color as a topic for a poem. As you have noted, black is a thousand hues adorned!

[Augustus]

Thank you so much for the detailed appraisal, Sheila. I love dogs too.. I'll check this poem out some time...

[Sheila Kline]

Sorry to have gotten so much off on the "dog analysis" but it is dear to my heart! Your poem highlights the beauty and exquisite qualities of the color of black, and it made me think of my girl. Your poem stands alone on its excellent form!

[Augustus]

No problem at all! Like I said, I love dogs too, so I can understand. Thanks again.