Twilight

In the twilight of the morning
lovers come to embrace reality
in the twilight of eveninglovers ripen with new-born yearning
drawn together by desire’s gravity
in the twilight of the morning

kept apart by harsh light’s warning
waiting for night-time’s obscurity
in the twilight of evening

hours away from dark loving
surrendering to brute humanity
in the twilight of the morning

escaping time through kissing
attempting to embrace infinity
in the twilight of evening

lovers dwelling in-between eluding
roles defined by others for eternity
in the twilight of the morning
in the twilight of evening

 

Note: The lines “In the twilight of the morning” and “In the twilight of evening” are both taken from Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

Nathanael O’Reilly is an Irish-Australian residing in Texas. His books include Preparations for Departure, Distance, Cult, Suburban Exile and Symptoms of Homesickness. His poetry has appeared in publications from twelve countries, including Antipodes, Cordite, Headstuff, Mascara, Skylight 47, Snorkel, Verity La and The Newcastle Poetry Prize Anthology 2017.

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