-- This Lonely Night --
John Herlihy
The sublime peace of solitude,
A safe refuge of the inner self.
The quiet hush found in solitude,
Interrupted by silent intruders.
The dark beauty of the night,
Sound in silence, an owl’s hoot.
The round face of the full moon,
In rising, lends its gentle voice.
Pale moonlight bathes the tree,
Shadows fall into the darkness.
Black as black on a spider’s belly,
Crickets fill the air with music.
In the distance, a coyote, a bell,
A sleek train running the rails.
A sad tale of thin violin strings,
Dim harmonica notes left behind.
Across the barrenness of the night,
Wind whispers heard as if haunted.
The moon sends forth its stolen light,
Not a sound now, only a heartbeat.
A scarecrow alone in a green field,
Hills in silhouette of moon-filled sky.
Solitude gone with the passing train,
Leaving in its wake this lonely night.
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Copyright ©John Herlihy
Sunday 12 February 2023
David
impressive poem…
“Hills in silhouette of moon-filled sky.” resonates powerfully
for me, and “A scarecrow alone in a green field” is a touch of genius!
Diana..🍃