They asked me why
I don’t often write
of the vastness of stars
tides of the sea
a flower’s bloom
bathed in a kiss
of sunlight
The blueness of skies
dotted with floating dreams
Shouldn’t words celebrate
the beauty in the world
They insisted
I assure you, I’ve tried
but each time failed
Exposed myself
as the imposter I am
I love those things
Stars, flowers, blue skies
and the sun
But it seems obvious
to me, their beauty
Each stands on its own
Without me
There’s something about
the darkness that’s
not so obvious
But equally elegant
There’s only one way
I’ve found, for me
to recognize
what grows within
The struggling
to find a way
Calling out
to be acknowledged
In the same way
you see the stars
the sky, sunshine
and flowers in bloom
Love it. My new favorite of yours.
LikeLiked by 6 people
Thanks, man.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand this so very well.. Excellent poem.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you very much.
LikeLike
Thought provoking as always, River. I’m always glad to read your words.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I appreciate that, thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!!! You stun me! 🖤🖤🖤🔥🔥🔥
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you!
LikeLike
Most welcome! 💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Superbly written 👍🏻 thank you friend
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you for reading!
LikeLike
Beautifully put sir!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
River, the darkness appeals to me too. As much as I love the light, the darkness is richly seductive. I need it when in despair. There’s a comfort in it. When I read your beautiful poem this morning, I remembered something I saved from IG recently. It was posted on @mother-entropy’s page by @with-antlers-gleaming: “In Uzbek we have this concept of the divine dark, the darkness from which all things came. So there’s this idea that shows up in a lot of our literature that when the world was first made it was like a gentle night, peaceful, quiet and pitch-black. The night is when creation started and the night is when you’re closest to glimpsing what it was like at the very start of the world.” ♥.
LikeLiked by 5 people
That’s really interesting, thanks for giving me something to think about, Niki.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure River. I found it really interesting too. ♥.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that is you in a nutshell…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why are you always talking about my nutshells?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I talk about everyone’s nutshells… it’s like a nervous tic…
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh my goodness, I just read my heart……..darkness has always brought me so much joy and peace………thank you for writing such beautiful truth.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much for reading, Wendi.
LikeLiked by 1 person
such a pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. It’s been quite some time since I got the chance to read your work. Your work always amazes me. Keep blogging man ✌🌸
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, I appreciate you reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pleasure is all mine
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one went in my saved posts! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I appreciate that, thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome sir!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Couldn’t agree more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. There’s nth as tempting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nothing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice, RD
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tref.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm. The dimmer side seems to draw me, too. By the way, flowers ARE stars! Look at at how they are shaped.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Beautifully expressed 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Amazing poem.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfectly worded.
It’s just so much more powerful to write about things that we actually feel and connect with.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I write darkness better than the stars and flowers you talk about. This was very good River!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This resonates and is so beautifully written. It’s a topic I wrote about myself recently so it’s dear to my heart.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate that, thank you very much.
LikeLike
Great piece. Sometimes I try to move in the direction I’m not naturally drawn to. Even though it all looks good, within I feel like a chameleon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Good point, River, beautifully and eloquently made, as ever. Can’t argue with that… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alli.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you here. Even though my website is mostly humorous writing, my other stuff wanders over to the dark side. I never was a Hallmark girl:-)
LikeLiked by 2 people
Humor goes very well with the darkness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
After I saw “without,” I was delighted to find “within” several lines down.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much for reading, Audrey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely love this, River! I relate so completely to every word of it, every moment. So good!!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Susan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow what a great piece!! 💫🔥👌☕️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks, Ray!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a stunning piece, River!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most welcome!
LikeLiked by 2 people
♥️
LikeLiked by 2 people
THe speaker in this poem feels so creepy – nice job!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much for reading!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely piece of writing
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you.
LikeLike
Excellent point
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s beauty in everything, light and dark, well done
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I concur.
always enjoy reading yr stuff/ Thanx for dropping by
gray
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, I appreciate that.
LikeLike
I prefer the darkness. Enjoyed the poem. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved this. Identified with it. And, in some ways, I find the darkness more relatable than the light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too. Eventually, it becomes comforting. Familiar. The light can be terrifying. The realization that hope actually exists and finally acknowledging that we are in control is a lot of responsibility. Too much for some people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hmm, yes indeed. This is a truth that is hard to admit. That inherent freedom is a lot of responsibility.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing! This poem resonates with me. The world is a very different place at night. There is something about the dark of night that I find intriguing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much for reading.
LikeLike
Just wonderful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I completely get this, even in a literal sense: Sometimes the hubster and I will sit outside, in the dark, staring at a black sky with unevenly clumped dots of light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That reminds me, I need to do the same. It’s been a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the darkness and your words. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Terveen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘There is no sun without shadow, and it is essential to know the night.’ ― Albert Camus
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Thank you very much for reading.
LikeLike
Unapologetically yourself, just as you are meant to be.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, Ali.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sunshine casts shade. Flowers are the result of seeds hidden in darkness. And stars can only shine at night. Each and every experience has an opposite such as these. Joy is impossible without having known sorrow.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Very true. Thanks for reading, Phyllis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well written, thanks for sharing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t see when this was written through being blind, but I love this one River. For me, it is outstanding
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Sorry the Anonymous is blindzanygirl from Blind Wilderness
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, gotcha.
LikeLike
Absolutely amazing, there is so much more to the dark forces. So true the elegance, the unpredictability… thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Tanya.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can really relate to this poem. Fine writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Chris.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not truly relevant; but I always have doubted John Cash would have loved to wear a rainbow every day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’re right. Not even in his heavy drug days.
LikeLike
The superficiality acknowledges the illusional “beauty” while the intelligent minds see the strife behind every single aspect of existence.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading, Neelam. I hope you are well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Yes, I’m well, thank you 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person