25 February 2025

Darkness in Peacetime

 

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How rare to find total darkness—
the kind in a closely draped room with a firmly locked door
or the kind with windows but no moon
the kind behind gently closed eyes
the kind that heightens other senses beyond sight.
 
Especially if you know where you are—
so panic doesn’t prevent movement and break your breath
so you aren’t waiting for blasts and sharp lights and pain
so you aren’t caught between calling out and utter silence
so you aren’t mourning loss too harsh for words.
 
In the dark, when the outlines are familiar and
when you can touch, hear, and smell comfort
when you can imagine what is outside and
can meditate on what rises inside
then creativity flowers.
 
How I love the comfort of darkness
with you helping me to feel myself
or alone, tasting the words that rise up and say
remember me until morning, remember
me until tomorrow, plant me and let me grow.


 For Sherry's prompt "The Dark" at What's Going On? 


My blog poems are rough drafts.
Please respect my copyright.
© 2025 Susan L. Chast


11 comments:

  1. Rajani2/26/2025 3:18 AM

    so you aren’t waiting for blasts and sharp lights and pain - goodness...those images are now horribly familiar after seeing them on our phones for so long...may everyone (every single person) get the blissful, peaceful beautiful, dark which brings sweet dreams and poetry that can be planted and let grow...

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  2. Sumana Roy2/26/2025 5:59 AM

    From the pain and numbness of the second stanza to the rise of the final one to find one's true self is a deep inward journey. How wonderful it is to feel 'the comfort of darkness'! The dark is a beauty sometimes. So lovely Susan.

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  3. Mary2/26/2025 8:25 AM

    I like the way you expressed that creativity can flourish in darkness if one knows the setting and knows that one is safe. The last stanza makes me think of how often one gets an idea in the middle of the night and wishes to remember it until light of day when the idea can bloom and grow.

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  4. Jae Rose2/26/2025 11:05 AM

    I love the safety and knowing in your insight into darkness...it radiates - Jae

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  5. Sherry Blue Sky2/26/2025 11:19 AM

    This is so beautiful, Susan. Your closing stanza lifts the heart especially.

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  6. Kim M. Russell2/26/2025 11:45 AM

    I’m familiar with all the kinds of darkness in your opening stanza, Susan, but I crave the ‘kind behind gently closed eyes’ at the moment. I agree that, in the dark, when the outlines are familiar’ you can ‘touch, hear, and smell comfort’. Your final stanza resonates with me.

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  7. Fireblossom2/27/2025 12:37 PM

    Reach out in the darkness, as the old song by Friend & Lover sang.

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  8. Jennifer Wagner2/28/2025 11:13 AM

    I like how you "exposed" darkness in a comforting "light." Pun, of course, intended.

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  9. Susie Clevenger2/28/2025 1:00 PM

    I too find comfort in darkness. I find my spirit and heart has more freedom there.

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  10. Truedessa3/01/2025 5:28 PM

    This is wonderful and soothing in many ways. My favorite part:

    when you can imagine what is outside and
    can meditate on what rises inside
    then creativity flowers.

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  11. purplepeninportland.com3/03/2025 8:18 PM

    "Especially if you know where you are—
    so panic doesn’t prevent movement and break your breath
    so you aren’t waiting for blasts and sharp lights and pain
    so you aren’t caught between calling out and utter silence
    so you aren’t mourning loss too harsh for words."

    Excellent poem, Susan. Mr creativity sometimes thrives in darkness.

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