Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Night

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                                             Midweek Motif ~ Night

It is strange how night erases day slowly and makes its appearance in dark attire with sprinkles of light all over, lending a mystery to it. This phenomenon had always attracted creative minds and been expressed in words, lines,colors and forms.

Is night all about darkness I really wonder. Is there a glimmer of hope too?

In this context I could not but quote a few lines from Henry David Thoreau's essay "Night and Moonlight": How insupportable would be the days if the night with its dew and darkness did not come to restore the drooping world. As the shades begin to gather around us, our primeval instincts are aroused, and we steal forth from our lairs, like the inhabitants of the jungle, in search of those silent and brooding thoughts which are the natural prey of the intellect.

To quote Vincent Van Gogh: I often think that night is more alive and more richly colored than day.

And Walt Whitman: To me every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.

I am also including here a few poems to inspire you for today's theme , Night:

Abraham Lincoln Walks At Midnight

by Nicholas Vachel Lindsay

It is portentous, and a thing of state
That here at midnight, in our little town
A mourning figure walks, and will not rest,
Near the old court-house pacing up and down.

Or by his homestead, or in shadowed yards
He lingers where his children used to play,
Or through the market, on the well worn stones
He stalks until the dawn-stars burn away.

A bronzed, lank man! His suit of ancient black,
A famous high top-hat and plain worn shawl
Make him the quaint great figure that men love,
The prairie-lawyer, master of us all.
                                             (The rest is here)


Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of light.
                                           (The rest is here)



Meeting At Night

by Robert Browning

l.

The grey sea and the long black land;
And the yellow half moon large and low;
And the startled little waves that leap
In fiery ringlets from their sleep,
As I gain the cove with pushing prow,
And quench its speed i' the slushy sand.

ll.

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;
Three fields to cross till a farm appears;
A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch
And blue spurt of a lighted match,
And a voice less loud, thro' its joys and fears,
Than the two hearts beating each to each!




Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community.

                  (Next week Susan's Midweek Motif will be ~ Power)


26 comments:

  1. Good morning, Sumana and all. Thanks for the opportunity to reflect on night, which is a part of everyone's life.

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  2. Hello everyone,

    It's Midweek motif once again :D sharing a poem called "A night to remember." Hope you guys like it :D

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  3. Thank you for the prompt - night can have a brightness..a peace..and far better than dark thoughts

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  4. Thank you for the prompt, it got me thinking :)

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  5. Hi everyone! I'm across the river from Hudson, NY. Nights here are full of creatures making themselves at home.

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  6. Hello and nice of you to share that.

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  7. Lovely celebration of Night here today, thank you friends :)

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  8. Lovely prompt. Enjoyed writing on it. And now, I am excited to read all the wonderful poems here :)

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  9. Thanks for the prompt, but I'm afraid mine is dark and cold. It's Winter Downunder...

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  10. cant seem to find the linky

    my poem is at [http://myblog-verses.blogspot.com/2015/07/94.html]

    thanks to Poets United for another stimulating prompt

    much love...

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  11. I am getting a late start this morning, kids......will see if I can rattle a few thoughts out of the attic, dusty as it is. Looking forward to reading your offerings.

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  12. Hi everybody - thank you for the interview love this week :)
    My offering is about using night as a metaphor for depression, and the search for the pearl of hope.

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  13. That's an exciting prompt , Sumana. The most important moments in the life of a human is when in the company of animals/nature .. they inspire they indulge they energise they lift the spirits they invigorate and they transport one into a world unknown to us all
    Exotic sounds, indigo-night, foliage, fallen trees, small or big beasts in the forests fascinate me..
    Shall come back to read the other entries tomorrow. Thank you!

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  14. I like the prompt Sumana. I don't think I did it justice but I did write something. I had company and didn't give myself enough time. Stil, I like to participate when I can. Take care. Happy reading.

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  15. Sumana,

    A wonderful prompt for this week. I've just managed to compose and post my poem, between dusk and dawn!!
    Eileen

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  16. For some reason I don't see Mr Linky or I would contribute.

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  17. But it seems I am not alone so here goes:

    http://roslynrosssmallstones.blogspot.com/2015/07/dark-night-of-soul.html

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  18. Sorry about the double-up. Had not realised it was registered. Thanks Mary.

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  19. Oh.. I wrote for the midweek motif.. it's been a while, but I found such a great picture to go with a poem...

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  20. Thanks for an excellent prompt Sumana. You have inspired thoughts from the barren land my brain had become. Cheers!
    Anna :o]

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  21. Sumana this is just right for the hot summer nights we are having. Sorry I am late have been away on a family outing.

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  22. i'm totally late, but better late than never, i guess. :)

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