The Whiteness of White
By John Herlihy

Let us now enter deeply the whiteness of white;
Let us now leave behind the blackness of night.
The moon’s brightness shines less than white;
The sun’s light shines much whiter than bright.

The stars they do but twinkle all the night long;
The pale moon arises as it sings a lonely song.
The black darkness often bring feelings of fear;
The white lightness offers a vainglorious veneer.

We sense the whiteness of snowflakes sanctifies snow;
The dove’s whiteness perpetuates any peace we know.
The freshness of laundry shows the whiteness of clean;
The white rabbit wears a vest tied tight at the seam.

We never question the mystery that lies in darkness;
What is this thing we routinely call pure whiteness?
Darker shades of night? I would have found them.
Lighter shades of bright? I must have unwound them.

Ebony night travels through regions of outer space;
Steal its blackness and the night may lose its face.
The bone white moon behaves as if it were a ghost;
The harsh white sun behaves as if it were the host.

The ebony of darkness carves mystery into marble;
The whiteness of ivory inspires humanity to marvel.
Darkness steals light to create the mystery of night;
Lightness steals light to create the whiteness of white.