-- World of Darkness --

John Herlihy

In shutting out of range the world of light,

The darkness creates a world bereft of sight.

In respect, even shadows will take their leave,

Without any moonlight to give them reprieve.

To wander sightless as in the world of the blind;

The other senses further heightened in the mind.

Understanding, even enlightenment, thru braille,

Feeling one’s timid way through a moribund tale.

Blind yes, but silent no, with its cacophony of sound,

In darkness, whispers and sighs our hearts surround.

A gentle breeze blows thru the window, ears to caress,

The scratching of tree branches do our fears address.

Crisp words enter the mind with sensitivity acute,

Every breath, every touch, with feeling most astute.

The pulse of the night beats loudly, as jungle drums,

Drawing us deeper within, on a trail of breadcrumbs.

The dark night invites intimacies to have their say,

Lovers whisper secrets, giving their hearts away.

The night makes much easier to say what you want,

Without intrusions of daylight our affections to taunt.

Ringing silence of night now echoes catcalls and cries,

Sightless to roam within its vision, the night has eyes.

The nose picks up garden flowers and their exotic smells,

Cry of a loon, an owl’s hoot, a lonely message that tells.

The world of darkness recreated when we close our eyes,

To wipe away all the visions upon which the eye relies.

A darkness so dark that it could rightly be called absolute,

A silence so stark the inner voice stands effectively mute.

A place where we come across an interesting perception,

Amid that utter darkness what do I see but light’s reflection.

Infinitesimal specks of light spiraling in a celestial galaxy,

Where the light comes from must remain a mystic mystery.

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Copyright © John Herlihy

Monday 24 May 2021