Ode To A Night Poem by Emdad Shah Emdad

by Emdad Shah

The silver night of stars—I wake alone
The wind ripples in blue where waves are sown
I tread the dusty paths of earth and clay
With heavy eyes where scent of blooms will stray.

When night-hawks scan the heavens, deep and vast
The loves of earth in one blue sky are cast
The moon, a mast-lamp, pale and cool and bright With silver wings, wages a war of light.

I drank the nectar of the stars and breeze
Yet hungered for your soul across the seas
Beneath a lonely tree, a bird I found A sleepless song, a secret, haunting sound.

I met a flower, a dog, a child at play Where moon and bloom wove heaven for a day My sorrow fled, the ghost of grief grew thin
I shed a century's pride to let them in.

A dancer called from shadows, soft and low
'Come take my hand, tonight we'll let it go.'
But then the watchman blew a whistle shrill
And she dissolved, leaving the mountain still.

This world is drunk, a den of thieves and greed
Where terror stalks and savage passions feed
The creatures of the dark that never sleep
Where humanity finds graves in shadows deep.

How strange this world, in midnight's mantle dressed
A mystery where wandering souls find rest
I walk the riverbank, alone and slow
To hear the song where heady currents flow.

A tethered boat was waiting by the shore
I set it loose, a sailor evermore Into the blind unknown I cast my fate
To merge with tides, and leave the world its weight.

I reached a grove where tiny woods take hold
Where dry leaves chimed like anklets, brave and bold
The owl cried out, a hush fell on the wood
A girl with glasses near the thicket stood.

A mountain red revealed its constant face Where waterfall-songs weep with scarlet grace
The lake sang out a venom-laced refrain
A sudden sting that stole my heart in pain.

The lights grow dim, the river drinks the breath
A heavenly sigh that knows no fear of death
I thought of you, the one I hold so dear
As night's own weariness began to clear.

This world is strange, as shifting as the night.