Nocturnae



Night touches leaves to cool their sunburn.
They no longer compete with blue sky
to lure eyes from infinity’s contemplation.

It is between shadow and moon secrets
breathe the indigo colors of tranquility
releasing exposure’s fear on Dayea’s breast.

Bare feet wander the dreamer’s path
under Nyx’s watchful eye avoiding nightmare’s stones
to find Mousai's crumbs leading to their front door.

Mother Oak wraps the night in her protective limbs
and stands as sentry to watch the horizon
until light stirs the bird song to announce morning.



©Susie Clevenger 2013

Dayea ~ Filipino goddess of secrets
Nyx ~ Greek goddess of the night
Mousai ~ Greek for muses

Kerry at Real Toads challenged us to write a Poetic Nocturne.
Kerry's Wednesday Challenge ~ Nocturne



Comments

Sherry Blue Sky said…
Such a beautiful midnight ramble....I love the "indigo colors of tranquillity".
June 5, 2013 at 3:52 PM
Janine Bollée said…
Great to see the way you narrow the vision from the expanse of day to the tunnel of night.
June 5, 2013 at 4:04 PM
hedgewitch said…
I love the image of light stirring the birdsong, Susie. 'avoiding nightmare's stones' also makes one feel the vulnerability and fragility of the time--and of course, I love the light brush of myth.
June 5, 2013 at 7:07 PM
Fireblossom said…
Mother Oak. I like that.
June 5, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Margaret said…
Sunburns, fears, nightmares, journey, all calmed and soothed by night's watchful and tranquil protection! Just beautiful.
June 5, 2013 at 7:55 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
@Sherry, thank you. Such a lovely prompt from Kerry
@aprille, thank you!
@Lisa, thanks so much
June 5, 2013 at 8:26 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
@hedgewitch, thank you. The prompt did take me down a mythical path
@Fireblossom, thanks
@Margaret, thank you so much
June 5, 2013 at 8:27 PM
Kay L. Davies said…
I love this, Susie, especially your final stanza.
K
June 6, 2013 at 12:30 AM
Ella said…
I love how you brought us into the light :D
I love your ending...
I need to do another one
:D
Lovely
June 6, 2013 at 12:51 AM
J Cosmo Newbery said…
Sweetly done.
The wait for the dawn can drag, don't envy the sentries.
June 6, 2013 at 6:53 AM
TCPC said…
There is a sense of tranquility in this piece. Walking through the night waiting for the morning to arrive
June 6, 2013 at 7:20 AM
Susie Clevenger said…
@Kay, thank you!
@Ella, thanks. I wasn't sure how it would go. I just started writing. :)
@J thanks!
@Akila, thank you. I think I write about peace when I need it the most.
June 6, 2013 at 2:31 PM
Maggie Grace said…
So lovely to think of goddesses as guardians of the night. Stunning writing.
June 6, 2013 at 3:27 PM
Hannah said…
Wow...magical, Susie...I found it neat that infinity and indigo are also in my poem, Susie!! Cool coincidence, huh?! Great Nocturne!!
June 6, 2013 at 4:05 PM
Mary said…
Oh yes, this is wonderful. There is so much to be experienced in the night that one cannot experience in the day.
June 6, 2013 at 5:52 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
@Maggie Grace, thank you so much. When writing it the goddesses sent thoughts they should be included. :)
@Hannah, thank you so much! Yes, a very cool coincidence. :)
@Mary, thank you. I love the night and I seem to always be awake for most of it!
June 6, 2013 at 6:26 PM
Outlawyer said…
Very pretty poem - the Greek references make us conscious of the rather classical - eternal - or at least I hope eternal -- at least historic atmosphere of night - how we can find same feel in the darkness as was felt so long ago (even despite electricity!) Thanks. k.

This is Karin Gustafson by the way, of Manicddaily. I'm on an iPad and I think blogger is going to make me use an old blog from blogger that I don't use. I'm http://Manicddaily.wordpress.com
June 6, 2013 at 9:35 PM
Susie Clevenger said…
@manicddaily, thank you so much!
June 6, 2013 at 10:56 PM
Kerry O'Connor said…
What a beautiful experience to read this with the music playing softly in the background. I love your inclusion of the varied deities - for the mythology but also for the sound of their names.
June 7, 2013 at 6:59 AM
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