Nightling

 


I ache for night,
to dance among stars
who don’t ask my name
or judge me for my eccentrics.

It is in the fairy plum shadows
the harsh lines of worry 
are air brushed into peace.

I’ve always been a nightling,
a forever child claiming
the moon as mother, 
and the silhouettes of wildlife
my familiars, guides leading
me to poetry the sun could never write.

In the obscurity tomorrow 
doesn’t stalk nor does daylight
insist I sit at its table of necessities.

Embraced by the quiet song of night
insomnia feels less a beast
and more like a fly that annoys
for a moment, but will leave
when it tires of me swatting it
away from what it hopes to feed on.

©Susie Clevenger 2024




Comments

robkistner said…
“I’ve always been a nightling,
a forever child claiming
the moon as mother,
and the silhouettes of wildlife
my familiars, guides leading
me to poetry…”

I share the essence of your sentiment here Susie. Beautifully written. πŸ™‚✌🏼🫢🏼
Mary said…
I really enjoyed this poem. Some really good lines:
" I ache for night,
to dance among stars
who don’t ask my name
or judge me for my eccentrics."
Yes, it is a freeing time, isn't it?
No need for pretenses in the night.
I like the idea that insomnia seems
like a fly that will leave. I share that
same fly sometimes & some nights really
struggle to bat it away. Nicely composed.
A lot I can identify with!
Fireblossom said…
Shall I quote the entire poem back to you trying to say how much I love this? It's stellar, Susie. It leaves me breathless.
De Jackson said…
Entirely gorgeous throughout, but Ohhhhhh, THIS:
I’ve always been a nightling,
a forever child claiming
the moon as mother

Swoooooning.
Truedessa said…
Just heavenly - dance on my friend...

I ache for night,
to dance among stars
who don’t ask my name
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Wonderfully written, Susie. I love it. I am a moon child too...........even though I can no longer stay awake long enough to see it. LOL.
Susan said…
". . . guides leading
me to poetry the sun could never write"
Indeed, I often write at night, but with little of the benison your poem identifies. Quiet, yes, but with the guardians? Not yet have I felt that kind of peace. Your poem makes me yearn for it.
Sumana Roy said…
I wish to write about every line of the poem but only selecting these two: "It is in the fairy plum shadows /the harsh lines of worry / are air brushed into peace." They do give me unbridled happiness. A wonderful way to be in peace. Expressions like 'nightling', 'a forever child', 'moon as mother', and insomnia is like a fly are beyond beautiful. Thank you for this wonderful poem, Susie.
Susie,

I too am probably a nightling child, with a preference for the calmness and tranquility I feel during the night-time's presence.
It is a place where dreams can be be achieved and creativity seems to thrive.
Something akin to a Robert Louis Stevenson view, through your wonderful poem...
alan1704 said…
This is beautiful, i think i am a child of the sunset, more than the night, but i love how you have captured your heart and this is magical. Lovely poem.
Dora said…
A heart-stopping line for me because so resonant: "I've always been a nightling,/a forever child claiming/the moon as mother" --- along with haunting mystic imagery of "fairy plum shadows" -- silhouettes -- "guides leading/me to poetry the sun could never write" at daylight's "table of necessities. That "ache for night" -- for peace and release -- you make so tangibly clear. The harmony of the night is the music I hear in this poem, so beautifully conceived and written.