Forget Not the Darkness
By John Herlihy

Forget not the darkness;
Do not hinder the coming of night;
Do not even whisper;
Silence has become its sister.

First darkness contains secrets
Every bit the equal of first light.
The darkness harbors mystery,
To protect the sanctity of eternal night.

What is the moon
But a mischievous orb,
Unveiling layers of borrowed light,
That the night must graciously absorb.

Then we have the twinkle of stars,
Forever encircling the Planet Mars.
Though worm of light it but be,
It travels light years for all to see.

Consider the humble firefly,
Flashing its phosphorescence in the dark sky.
It brightens the darkness with its prayer,
No one has the right its glow to ensnare.

Beware the darkness has eyes,
Brave animals grateful of disguise,
Twin visions of luminous hue,
Yellow beams belonging to the select few.

The midnight moth searches for light,
A flickering candle has an attraction most bright.
The light invades darkness with promise at hand,
To draw in the moth with its compelling demand.

We sing the praises of everlasting light;
We talk of it morning, noon and night.
But what of the glories of profound darkness,
That wraps infinitude in its ebony blackness.

Forget not that darkness imitates light;
A universal feature that informs our sight.
The splendor of light pervades the day;
But at night, darkness always holds sway.