Inspiration for the Spirit

A lovely place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul

  • Home
  • About
  • Poetry
  • Essays
  • Inspiration
  • Love
  • Quotes
  • Reflections
  • Guestbook
  • Archives
Home / Oriah Mountain Dreamer / Night Tears

Night Tears

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

There is a crying
that happens at night
that does not come
while the light is with us.
There are things that cannot
be evaded
once the sun goes down.
Small nocturnal creatures
with sharp white teeth
silently gnaw at the edges of
belly and heart
when the darkness descends
and the void inside
grows larger.

It can split you open.

And the bone
in the centre of your chest
aches
like the cracked wishing bone
from the turkey breast.

And if we are strong enough
to be weak enough
we are given a wound
that never heals.
It is the gift
that keeps the heart open.

Copyright © 1995 Oriah Mountain Dreamer • All rights reserved.
Selection from DREAMS OF DESIRE (Mountain Dreaming, 1995, out of print).

You might also like

Snowfall
Alchemy
Another Year
How We Didn't Tell Her

Filed under grief & sadness.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
book and blue flowers

Guest Poets

  • Oriah Mountain Dreamer
  • Terry Stephen Driscoll
  • Dennis Janke
  • Christine Magee
  • Carrie Ryman
  • Tom Schmidt
  • Susan Dane Setin

"What makes you a poet is a gift for language, an ability to see into the heart of things"—Erica Jong

Featured Poem

pensive ballerinas

Taffeta Torn Through

By Susan Dane Setin

We look for strong arms
to carry us. None forthcoming.
Or they come and go and
leave us more depleted in the going.
We look to find ourselves in the other,
always turning ’round the other
in pink taffeta, little girl pirouettes,
all grown up and still
twirling for him, as if some coyness
could suffice the long road … Read more
carousel
Venice
tea party on a cupcake
lamplight on snowy night
Sitem♥p

Explore and Enjoy

aging art autumn being female children compassion courage death divorce family father flowers forgiveness friendship grief & sadness happiness hate hope inner peace life loneliness love love lost loving yourself marriage mindful living mother mountains music Native American people places positive attitude poverty quotes relationships seasons sex & sexuality simple pleasures simplicity solitude spirit spring winter writing

Inspiration for the Spirit EST 2002 • Copyright © 2022 Patricia Petro • LOGIN

»
«