Pilgrim Notes

Reflections along the way.

The Night Will Never Stay

Night Trees with Stars (photo by jpstanley via Creative Commons)

As I’ve stated before, poetry softens my heart to listen. So I often start my time of reading and reflection with a poem. Currently, I am soaking in the penetrating words of Michael O’Siadhail. Today’s poem was such a treat that I wanted to share it with you. In this poem, O’Siadhail alludes to a poem by Eleanor Farjeon,

The Night Will Never Stay.

The night will never stay,
The night will still go by,
Though with a million stars
You pin it to the sky,
though you bind it with the blowing wind
And buckle it with the moon,
The night will slip away
Like sorrow or a tune.

With her poem in the back of your mind, listen to the words, phrases and images of O’Siadhail as he explores the turning of seasons, of night to day, of dark to light.

Springnight

Framed by our window, trunks and branches
of chestnut trees are handbook illustrations
of arteries, veins charcoaled on a frosty sky.

Unnoticed tee-shaped shoots fuzz the outline.
After a winter’s wait an increment is sprung
in slow motion, growth catching us unawares.

Night is falling. The foreground darkens.
A trial of mauve clouds along the skyline
tones into the murk. A change of scene.

I gaze. You, my love, are tucked in sleep.
On edge, I begin loneness of a night;
all eyes and ears I’m keeping this watch.

Starlight throws a window oblong on our wall,
a screen where homing cars project the trees–
slowly, then rushing back in previews of dawn.

The night will never stay. A half-refrain
from the primary reader unreels in my mind
like a mantra. Will a bird come on cue?.

A distant lemon streak. The trees blush.
In my vigil a world is disclosing its meaning:
wonderful terror, terrifying wonder of waiting.

4 Comments

  1. Waiting does indeed have terror— uninvited
    The “what if devil”comes to spend the night too
    From behind each tree and rock

    Waiting with a friend prevents the unexpected boo
    So look up brave heart and pick a star
    You and your star—both come from invincible stock

    Thanks Doug: for provoking peace thoughts from across time and from the cosmos

  2. P.S. The night never stays long enough when you spend it with a friend!!!

  3. P.P.S. So what are we waiting on
    Make your couch on a moonbeam
    Fellowship with your very own
    Star

  4. I love it! Thanks David for continuing the spirit of the poem in your own friendly stargazing words.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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