Night Light

From Still Life, Three Worlds by Dai Pan (潘岱). Poem 23.

I close the door, turn on the night light.
The night is too dark, the window's glare too bright,
Awakening the bedroom door from slumber light.
I become the sole being in this confined space,

A living creature, wrapped in blackness complete.

Like a jellyfish drifting through deep sea waters,
Or some self-illuminating creature unnamed,
A fish they call "mysterious" in nature's quarters.
It savors the field of vision slowly claimed,

While music dims the heartbeat's steady pace.
Those distant murmurs return to the ear,
Consciousness finally surrenders to grace,
Relaxed. Like sugar after coffee, clear,

Worth savoring slowly. Pouring. Released.

Cite as: Dai Pan, "Night Light," Three Worlds, Still Life, poem 23, 2025. https://daipan.ink/still-life/night-light

Still Life 23

Night Light

I close the door, turn // on the night light.
The night is too dark, // the window's glare too bright,
Awakening the bedroom door from slumber light.
I become the sole being // in this confined space,

A living creature, wrapped in blackness complete.

Like a jellyfish drifting // through deep sea waters,
Or some self-illuminating creature unnamed,
A fish they call "mysterious" // in nature's quarters.
It savors the field // of vision slowly claimed,

While music dims the heartbeat's steady pace.
Those distant murmurs return to the ear,
Consciousness finally surrenders to grace,
Relaxed. Like sugar after coffee, // clear,

Worth savoring slowly. Pouring. Released.