Darkness Quote by Edward Hirsch
““The evening with its lamps burning The night with its head in its hands The early morning I look back at the worried parents Wandering through the house What are we going to do The evening of the clinical The night of the psychological The morning facedown in the pillow The experts can handle him The experts have no idea How to handle him There are enigmas in darkness There are mysteries Sent out without searchlights The stars are hiding tonight The moon is cold and stony Behind the clouds Nights without seeing Mornings of the long view It's not a sprint but a marathon Whatever we can do We must do Every morning's resolve But sometimes we suspected He was being punished For something obscure we had done I would never abandon the puzzle Sleeping in the next room But I could not solve it””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Evening” (excerpt) in *The Darker Back of the Day*, 1995
The poem juxtaposes daily routines with existential dread, highlighting the tension between routine and the unknown.
In simple terms: Every day blends ordinary tasks with deeper anxieties.
Key Takeaway
Find meaning in daily moments.
Themes
existentialism
routine
anxiety
Mood
pensive
somber
hopeful
Type
literary
introspective
When to use this quote
- morning rituals
- night shifts
- clinical work
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
psychology
poetics
time perception
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you confront hidden fears?
- What rituals ground you amid uncertainty?
A Different Perspective
The poem’s abstract imagery may obscure practical guidance.
