Best Nocturnal Poems
While it feels in the noontide, just steps through the trees,
As the sky bleeds to twilight – the sweetest disease.
On a walk through the maples, an itch of romance,
As a warm breeze courts Eros at gloaming's advance.
Just a glance woos the shivers, through come hither eyes,
Nervous hands - now perspiring, by moonlight’s devise.
Down a path softly swaying, then slowly a waltz,
Till a feverish tango as all reason halts.
Soon the knees start to wobble and vision subsides,
As the world falls from focus in dizzying strides.
There’s no end to the sickness on warm summer strolls,
Should the moon cast its toxin on amorous souls.
**12/14/2017**
screams pierce the night
primeval mating
wise owls winking
Edited to include "creatures of the night"
They wait for shadows
to rush and fill their forest home.
Then ushered in by the hoot of the owl
or the whip-poor-will’s call,
they appear as silently as the black of night itself.
A fawn in hiding ambles over to a pebbled pool.
Its family follows.
Fireflies flicker about like tiny lanterns
and the incessant murmur of insects
fills the air.
Somewhere – cloaked in darkness – a frog croaks.
Soft splashes in the pool
reveal ducklings paddling along.
Creatures of the night -
badgers, raccoons, and other tiny furry creatures -
scurry through bushes
foraging for prey smaller than themselves.
Ears prick at the sound
of a lone wolf’s howl.
June 12, 2022
NOCTURNAL MESSAGE
I must say
This, my dream, now seems
Not a series of unrelated happenings
In course of a night’s sleep
But were surrealistically constructed
From life’s timeless values lay
Hidden in my invisible keep
Various dream parts such as
Love decay old age and death are
Called up in metaphor –
A hand reaching muddy floor
Noise confusion and
Knocks on a door
I left for the city on foot
Clear and bright the day
Straight and sure the way
Within though Giganticus is
Misty and dark
Many buildings in decay
I’m lost
In a maze of winding streets
With nary a friendly face to greet
I wander through buildings
In and out in and out
Too numerous to count
Till at last through one door
I espy a counter section
With a sign – “We give directions”
“Oh thank heaven,” I cry – reach out –
“There is a God
And he is good.”
Alas as I step forth
There came a flood
Filling my way with blackest mud
Hindered thus in Giganticus
I tried cross the room to shout
“I’m lost want to go home which way out?”
But the relentless mud
Continued to flow
Doors now are locked no place to go
Past life flashed before my eyes
And to my horror
Came four knocks on the building door
Up! Up!
Wake up! Wake up!
Dave Austin
old familiar songs
on wings of time
tug at my heart strings
transporting me through
perilous dimensions
where moonlight lingers
and your voice
carries the weight
of the world
Published in my 24-page photo/anthology book ~CITYLIGHTS~ 2021
AP: Honorable Mention 2022
Submitted on January 19, 2022 for contest A STRAND (1055) sponsored by BRIAN STRAND - RANKED 1ST
I dreamt a dream of poetry
That was being written in my sleep
Nocturnal thought scanning
For the perfect words to keep
Reading it over and over
Making sure it reads just right
Only then to be awoken
Before the morning light
Thinking I will remember it
As my head is layed back down
Then again to awake
With not a single word to be found
Being so upset for not writing
The perfect poem that I dreamt
My day began with sadness
And a brain thats been half spent
Now there is a pen and paper
On the nightstand easy to find
Just waiting for nocturnal poetry
That may flow from my sleeping mind
Dan Kearley:11-9-11
Twilight surrenders the sky when night takes hold,
offering the throne to the moon and stars of gold.
Luna appears in a sparkling silver gown that glows.
She smiles on the world, graceful in a peaceful pose.
How beautiful is the night to a stargazer like me,
where threads of light resemble fine lace in filagree.
Celestial ornaments sparkle across night's expanse.
Captured in their spell, couples dream of romance.
There's the scent of flora wafting in a gentle breeze
and the sweet aroma of magnolia decorates the trees.
Calmness prevails and earth seems to be less stressed
at night when the moon shines over the mountain crest.
I linger in the tranquility of tonight's heavenly embrace,
enjoying the black velvet darkness of boundless space.
I feel the need to thank God for such a wondrous gift,
for it soothes my soul and gives hope a spiritual lift.
When the night is silent, my memories have no bounds.
If filled with bird trills, I hear nature's sweet sounds.
The song of a nightingale is part of her vocal symphony.
How beautiful is the night to me, audibly and visually.
Incredulous sights and sounds fill me with pleasure
when night falls and I feel His glory beyond measure.
Often, I'm in awe while gazing at nocturnal splendors,
grateful that I treasure what God so lovingly renders.
November 16, 2022 ~ Beauty of Night Contest
Sponsored by Sotto Poet
The night is young
And enticing
Still, a lump weighs heavily on my heart
As I sit by the window
And reflect on the cause of life!
Pray, it would seem that, somehow
People get so engrossed in life
That they forget about its illusory power
Or,
Is it that they simply choose
To pretend to forget about it
And to concentrate on its joys!
Why, life bothers me
It moves me
It pains me
It is like a trap
A wonderful scene painted
Made of a most luscious clear watered pond
But, the moment you approach it
Creatures of darkness jump out
And pull you in,
In their cage where you become
Like laboratory rats spinning on wheels
Going faster and faster
Going nowhere
Yet, having to keep on moving
For such is what is expected!
Pray, the night is still young
Frogs croak tirelessly
Engaged in their own symphony
Leaves rattle by carelessly
Propelled by the winds
Rain drizzles over from the sky
And I can only think of that which life has taken from me
As well as that which I secretly desire
But which I may never get!
Pray, the lump weighing over my heart is growing
Almost as if it were a carnivorous plant
Existing there, in my inner garden
Ready to destroy everything that I treasure
From my memories
To my romantic aspirations!
Why, life is such
Made to be a mere game
Enacted by you and me
But being ruled by the powerful will of Fate
And Death!
Why, on this cold night
I can only sit and reflect
Saddened and burdened!
For Contest:
Sad Free Verse 2017
Sponsored by Laura Loo
Written on 28 July 2017
moon-flame s p
i
l l s
rose s p a r k s
c l u
s t
e
r e
d
in caviar
s w i r l s ~
nocturnal nectar
The sun descended slowly
Behind the purple hills, sending
Long shadows behind her.
Night enveloped the vista.
I walked barefoot on the beach.
Did I hear sirens singing?
Their alluring song invited.
Come to us, paradise was there.
But I know of their tricks.
Ulysses tied himself fast to a mast
To escape their cannibalistic taste.
I moved on and walked on the sand.
Leaving deep footprints behind me.
Only one pair. Where were the others?
The haggard moon barely showed
What lay ahead. Did I see a small cabin?
The smell of pancakes and coffee
Filled the breezeless air.
I entered and felt elated. For there she was
Ready to meet me and greet me.
Happiness at seeing her so lovely
My love now was filled to the brim.
____________________________________________________________
I am sure everyone knows the story from ancient Greece about Ulysses and his wanderings.
When gloaming twilight becomes night darkness
I begin my nocturnal nightly wandering
and gazing
at the unfathomable night sky-
it is ever changing and mysterious
puzzling, peculiar and perplexing
beyond obscure stars and the moon
is a unknown and inexplicable realm
odd, secret and strange
and perhaps a bizarre place-
night after night from eventide
till sunrise
I dwell in the mystic sky floating
in dreams . . .
_____________________________
August 6, 2017
Written for the contest, Mysterious Night
sponsor, Nayda Ivette Negron
Seventh Place
The sultry night dispelled the light warm breeze,
As he snoozed on the hot sand of the beach:
She smiled and giggled, a dance of a tease,
Till she flew up quite far beyond his reach.
He moaned; desire urged him to fly with her.
Could he zoom towards scintillating stars?
Achieve a love along the milky way,
Add her in his voluminous memoirs?
Search for passion in dark night's misty ray?
Summer silence held him in tangled blur.
Diurnal, nature's early damsel,
donned in dew and vivid peach,
I am in need of dawning's candle;
humor me as I beseech.
Amidst thy gown I often ponder,
musing on the great "to be."
'Tis true, in thought I tend to wander
when amongst thy company.
Alas, Nocturnal's robe lies rigid
on the quarters of my sleep!
His garb represses thought--so frigid
are the kernels of my keep!
I can no longer bear the torment
that escorts a smothered mind,
for when one sleeps with theory dormant--
evening peace one cannot find.
Why doth such darkness bear a beacon
brilliant like a sterling gem?
Why doth such radiance not weaken
what I feel when cloaked by him?
Dost not thou give the moon its polish,
though the distance holds thy light?
If so, then with that sphere, abolish
all his sabotage tonight!
Too long have I, a pensive person,
been condemned to sleep as such.
I wish for not my rest to worsen:
won't thou reprimand his touch?
I beg of thee: repeal my prison,
purge me of its blank regime,
and grant my slumber nightly visions--
be they sweet or bitter dreams!
Never a foe, life made you so.
Gazed at me from head to toe
as darkness sees light through the Owl.
Your nature is a rhetorical "how".
I sort for you during day time.
A visit, I hope isn't a cold crime?
How 've you became fugitive oh nocturnal bird?
Daylight curiosity got me lividly lured.
You reign supreme at night like darkness,
they proclaim you as their highness,
Though certainly not the finest,
your eyes are well fed to the fullest.
Your fate hides you in nature's wound,
a confinement where you grudgingly brood,
not free to rule all day as you should
just as the Crepuscular species.
I found you in your fortress of distress
longing to see you like a dearly mistress.
Can't love you as much as I wanna fly high;
Life's laid a poignant juxtaposition betwixt you & I:
My wings and feathers mimicks pretty,
your color like grey-tailed tattler looks filthy,
your daylight attendance is such a pity.
Though we belong to the same specie
our fondness ends up totally mashy.
Oh dear Owl, allies of moonlight,
ghost of day, vigilante of the night,
you shall always be dwellers of height.
Vick Manuel Poetry {VMP}
Form: Envoy/Rhymes
Copyright© March 23rd, 2021.
notice the natural
nocturnal of the night-
never has the naked
nighthawk nested as neat-
neglected by dark, he
nestles with grace and need.
numb from twilight, he’s near.
April 29, 2017