The night slips into sleepy monochrome
nodding off at times on a pallet* of purple
with orange crushed uncertainly 
in coned, colour spaces

slowly, drowsily, at the crepuscular hour
saturation seeps away ; our eyes switch mode
with rod and line they fish out 
tainted tones of blue in casts of shade

molasses blacks too when illuminations
pitch and blaze a way to covert corners 
and fetch warm-blooded greys of dove and mouse 
or pewter rain clouds here to stay

The night sleeps deep in monochrome
- against such constancy, we stain our dreams
with daring dayglo dyes

23 thoughts on “Black & white nights”

1. The poem and the picture are striking, captivating. The shock of “daring dayglo dyes” was startling, and wonderful. Excellent piece Laura.

   1. many thanks Rob – struck me that dreams are perhaps the only nighttime colours

2. Such amazing imagery here, Laura! 💜 I especially love; “warm-blooded greys of dove and mouse
   or pewter rain clouds here to stay.” 😍

   1. glad you picked that line – so many words for grey and I like the warm blooded ones versus the steely pewter

   2. Wanted to say the exact same thing 🙂

3. Talk about being on the same wavelength, Laura – I’ve just posted a poem written around the word ‘monochrome’ too! I became immersed in your wonderful evocation of fading evening light. I especially enjoyed the lines:
   ‘slowly, drowsily, at the crepuscular hour
   saturation seeps away ; our eyes switch mode
   with rod and line they fish out
   tainted tones of blue in casts of shade’
   and the contrast of ‘molasses blacks’ and the illuminations pitching and blazing.
   The alliteration at the end conveys a strong sense of defiance.

   1. Yes we are in tune with our theme ideas! this far from the equator we are fortunate to have lingering twilights and so glad you like the slowness of the onset. D for defiance I like that!

4. Excellent.

5. Very nice description especially in the first stanza. I like how the sleepy monochrome ties the beginning with the ending.

   1. thank you Frank

6. Amazing descriptions and I love these lines: ‘and fetch warm-blooded greys of dove and mouse
   or pewter rain clouds here to stay’ -Lovely!

   1. much appreciatiated Linda – thank you for hosting OLN – this night theme was the nearest I got to Halloween

7. a dense and rewarding poem , Laura, one to read and re-read! JIM

   1. appreciate you comment – many thanks

8. I like to watch the day change into night, the colors seeping out–that’s the perfect description. Dreams have their own agenda. (K)

   1. thank you

9. I feel very much the way that the world has turned monochrome too… I want some dayglo but I assume it can only come from bottles and syringes

   1. and dreams

10. The way the colors shift and stand out, it reminds me of a night predator on the prowl. Like Jim said, one to be read again and again.

    1. interesting anthropomorphic idea – thank you for doing more than a fleeing read 🙂

       1. You are very welcome, Laura. It is my pleasure.

11. The night sleeps deep in monochrome… so beautiful!
    Love the image, Laura!

    1. Thank you Amy – it was certainly a monochrome night by Tower bridge

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