Darkness

after Rilke

by Alan Payne

Darkness,

your grand circle engulfs

all the small bright circles

of the world.  None

can withstand you:

meteors trailing their light

through space, this slim

candle on a shelf.

All selves

belong to you, began

in you.  You place

a hand on my shoulder, shift

hand to wrist, fell my pulse.

Your gentleness moves

me to belief: in

darkness.