Anneliese Kvamme

Awakening in Darkness

The night enfolds me, wraps its frosty cloak
upon my shoulder, drawing shivers, gasps,
bewildered dread, delighted turmoil, fear
of unknown, unseen perils woven deep
within the fabric. This embrace, unsought,
yet not unwelcome, heightens dormant sense
aware of eyes, the hoot of owls, the flap
and flutter of the bat upon the moth--
emerging moisture scents the desert air
as I inhale an easy, silent breath.
The breath, the chill within my nostrils, all
the rustling movements and the sable stole
awaken self, awareness. This is what
it means to live. For life is me and not
just me. I reach through ether, mythic though
it is, and know I’m not alone. The night’s
embrace is comforting tranquility.

Anneliese Kvamme is a high school English language arts teacher who is finishing up her Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies degree, focused on English and writing, at Western New Mexico University. She has loved writing poetry for years, publishing some of it on her personal blog, kvammefamily.com.