The light, what of
The light? Splintered, Died.²
Sparks, having grazed into the night—
Surrender to it—³
For fear lest day should look our Shames
Upon, we willfully ourselves Exile from light—
And must for aye consort with Black-Browed night.⁴
From Dark Path to Dark Path
We’ve wandered in darkness.⁵
We cannot read the darkness:
It is a form of Madness!⁶
Against that darkness—
One is Bereft of rights.⁷
We give it enough Shadow—
Give it as much as we know to be Parceled out
Between our Midnight, and Midday, and Midnight.⁸
Our darkness Breathes more Deeply in the dark.⁹
We Lie bathed in shadow,
Eclipsed at Midnight—
Cleansed Pure.¹⁰
¹ John Dryden, Mac-Flecknoe
² Jamaica Kincaid, At Last
³ Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway
⁴ William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
⁵ Hakuin Ekaku tr. Rochester Zen Center, Chant in Praise of Zazen
⁶ Maggie Nelson, Bluets
⁷ Iris Murdoch, The Black Prince
⁸ Paul Celan tr. John Felstiner, Speak, You Too
⁹ Bruce Bond, Lamella
¹⁰ Laura Hershey, Orion on the Porch