The Darkness as Night Whisperer

I wouldn’t turn on the light,
The darkness said, there’s no need.
I’ll overwhelm you,

I’ll keep you guessing,
That’s just the way I work.
Each day in the dark

Is a death. In the course
Of your life, you’ll die
Many deaths. You might

As well give up now
As later, be done with it.
You know what I mean,

The darkness said, don’t you?
I turned the light on
Anyway and I kept it on.

Peter Huggins is the author of seven books of poems, including the forthcoming SMALL MERCIES. He has also published three books of fiction for children; TROSCLAIR AND THE ALLIGATOR appeared on the PBS show BETWEEN THE LIONS. He taught for thirty-one years in the English Department at Auburn University.