In the Dark

by Elise Stuart

 
In the dark, where writing waits,
the unconscious becomes conscious.
The writer closes her eyes to see.
Black scratches on white paper
transform invisible to visible.
Messages do not clamor to be answered.
The list of what must be accomplished
is far away in the other room.
The phone is silent.
There is only
the soft breathing of cats,
accompanied by the hum
of refrigerator music.
In the dark, the moon keeps
her promise of light.
The stars, sheathed in dark splendor whisper,
and the poem inside
awakens.


* * * * *

Elise Stuart is a writer of poetry and short stories. She’s facilitated numerous poetry workshops for students in Silver City schools, feeling how important it is to give voice to youth. Her first poetry book, and then her memoir, My Mother and I, We Talk Cat were both published in 2017. She lives in Silver City, New Mexico with four cats, a sweet rascal of a pup, and her piano.