Knowledge of the Night
By John Herlihy

Children have knowledge of the day;
They are virtual experts when at play,
With friends they explore the world,
Waving bright kites they slowly unfurl.

There was a time in my childhood past,
When I had only knowledge of the day.
I thought such knowledge all there was;
I had no idea about knowledge of the night.

Ghosts have knowledge of the night,
In their nature they wish to give fright,
To all those simple, innocent souls,
Who walk upon the earth as trolls.

The stars glow in clusters seeming to swoon;
Whole galaxies roam thru infinite space,
While the face of the old man on the moon,
Glances fondly down upon the human race.

Workers have knowledge of the night;
They work the midnight shift in their plight,
Twiddling their thumbs in endless boredom,
Dreaming dreams on the verge of awesome.

Secrets lie between a man and a woman;
Whispers are uttered throughout the night,
Intimate words you cannot say during the day,
Pour forth on their own during the night.

When darkness seizes every single hour;
When night desires to delay the dawn;
When birds sleep the night away;
When flowers close their petals to pray.

When voices can be overheard in the shadows;
When whispers are uttered under the gallows;
When sorrow allows the luxury of tears;
When loneliness compounds over the years.

God’s mystery infiltrates the night.
Descending from an incredible height.
With secrets that lure the initiated,
Those souls with God’s love inebriated.

Night after night a repeat performance,
Of slumber and dreams and perpetual torment.
The stars have eyes that witness the world,
Night follows day as the globe on its axis whirls.

Now an old man I have left the fray;
I bid goodbye to the endless day,
Now I pray at the midnight hour,
Knowledge of the night will give me power.