NIGHT FLOWER

By John Herlihy

Awakening to sunrise with the coming dawn,

Opening wide their petals like a timid fawn,

Our summer world dressed in flowers by day,

Their blooms praise the Divinity as they pray.

The lowly night flower raises its head at dusk,

As night falls, it will awaken to fulfill its trust.

Its scent fills the night with rare odors sublime,

Hints of lilac and jasmine from perfume’s mine.

Alone among sleeping blossoms, it keeps alive,

The sense of rare beauty as dark nights thrive.

Endowed with exquisite petals of glowing white,

Its inner heart of blood orange an elating sight.

Born nightly in a bower from the tree of sorrow,

To bathe the night in sad beauty ‘til the morrow.