The Warning

Barthel Bruyn the Elder 
Vanitas

The Warning

For love – I would
split open your head and put
a candle in
behind the eyes.
Love is dead in us
if we forget
the virtues of an amulet
and quick surprise.

~ Robert Creeley ~

The Dark Hour

Miguel Padura

The Recurrent Dream

The Dark Hour

And now, when merry winds do blow,

And rain makes trees look fresh,

An overpowering staleness holds

This mortal flesh.

Though well I love to feel the rain,

And be by winds well blown --

The mystery of mortal life

Doth press me down.

And, In this mood, come now what will,

Shine Rainbow, Cuckoo call;

There is no thing in Heaven or Earth

Can lift my soul.

I know not where this state comes from --

No cause for grief I know;

The Earth around is fresh and green,

Flowers near me grow.

I sit between two fair rose trees;

Red roses on my right,

And on my left side roses are

A lovely white.

The little birds are full of joy,

Lambs bleating all the day;

The colt runs after the old mare,

And children play.

And still there comes this dark, dark hour --

Which is not borne of Care;

Into my heart it creeps before

I am aware.

~ William Henry Davies ~

We grow accustomed to the Dark

Rob Gonsalves

Astral Projections

We grow accustomed to the Dark

We grow accustomed to the Dark --

When light is put away --

As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp

To witness her Goodbye --

A Moment -- We uncertain step

For newness of the night --

Then -- fit our Vision to the Dark --

And meet the Road -- erect --

And so of larger -- Darkness --

Those Evenings of the Brain --

When not a Moon disclose a sign --

Or Star -- come out -- within --

The Bravest -- grope a little --

And sometimes hit a Tree

Directly in the Forehead --

But as they learn to see --

Either the Darkness alters --

Or something in the sight

Adjusts itself to Midnight --

And Life steps almost straight.

~ Emily Dickinson ~