---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...what else would a poet priest do on an…"
description: "\"“...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night, but write of love?...”\" — John Geddes"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg"
---

#  ...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night…

![“...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night, but write of love?...” quote by John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg)

> ““...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night, but write of love?...””

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A poet‑priest uses endless night to explore love, turning darkness into creative expression.

**In simple terms:** A poet writes about love in darkness.

Key Takeaway

Embrace creativity in bleak moments.

Themes

creativity love darkness

Mood

melancholic hopeful

Type

poetic inspirational

When to use this quote

- nighttime reflection
- writing practice
- spiritual contemplation

Key Concepts

existentialism romanticism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does solitude influence your artistic voice?
- Can love be a beacon in darkness?

A Different Perspective

May darkness stifle inspiration for some.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Poet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poet/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Priest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priest/)

## Related quotes

> [“...you called me poet-priest - I am. ...devoted to my art, faithful to you...or, is the other way around?...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/you-called-me-poet-priest-i-am-devoted-to-my-art-faithful-to-you-or/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [The true poet for me is a priest. As soon as he dons the cassock, he must leave his family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-true-poet-for-me-is-a-priest-as-soon-as-he-dons-the-cassock-he/)

[Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/)

> [The poet is the priest of the invisible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stevens/the-poet-is-the-priest-of-the-invisible/)

[Wallace Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stevens/)

> [The world still wants its poet-priest, a reconciler, who shall not trifle with Shakspeare the player, nor shall grope in graves with Swedenborg the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-world-still-wants-its-poet-priest-a-reconciler-who-shall-not/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [Every Night and every Morn Some to Misery are born. Every Morn and every Night Some are born to Sweet Delight, Some are born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/every-night-and-every-morn-some-to-misery-are-born-every-morn-and/)

[William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/)

> [He pass'd the flaming bounds of place and time: The living throne, the sapphire blaze, Where angels tremble while they gaze, He saw; but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gray/he-pass-d-the-flaming-bounds-of-place-and-time-the-living-throne-the/)

[Thomas Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gray/)

> [“Being without you, Julianne, is like enduring an endless night without stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/being-without-you-julianne-is-like-enduring-an-endless-night-without/)

[Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/)

> [Through endless night the earth whirls toward a creation unknown...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/through-endless-night-the-earth-whirls-toward-a-creation-unknown/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [“Take me from this earth an endless night- this, the end of life. From the dark I feel your lips and taste your bloody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-steele/take-me-from-this-earth-an-endless-night-this-the-end-of-life-from/)

[Peter Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-steele/)

> [“We're told that the Protectosphere is clear, but Grandma always said that the sky's not as clear as it was when she was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-grant/we-re-told-that-the-protectosphere-is-clear-but-grandma-always-said/)

Sara Grant

> [Death is an endless night so awful to contemplate that it can make us love life and value it with such passion that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/death-is-an-endless-night-so-awful-to-contemplate-that-it-can-make-us/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [Once there was a darkness, a deep and endless night, you gave me everything you had and oh, you gave me light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mclachlan/once-there-was-a-darkness-a-deep-and-endless-night-you-gave-me/)

[Sarah McLachlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mclachlan/)

> [“Somewhere in this endless night, a spark still burns, fragile, defiant, a beacon for the lost. And as the storm deepens, I remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dark-night-beacon/somewhere-in-this-endless-night-a-spark-still-burns-fragile-defiant-a/)

Dark Night Beacon

> [On the Junior Boys' 'When No-one Cares' beats are abandoned altogether, the track's 'endless night' lit only by the dying-star flares and stalactite-by-flashlight pulse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-fisher/on-the-junior-boys-when-no-one-cares-beats-are-abandoned-altogether/)

[Mark Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-fisher/)

> [“Look for the hand that points the way, And take the path where children play. Then where the face with breath that sighs Bends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-rodda/look-for-the-hand-that-points-the-way-and-take-the-path-where/)

[Emily Rodda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-rodda/)

## More by John Geddes

> [“...those others - they're looking for trends - subjects to catch a spark - but I have you - a coal from God's altar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/those-others-they-re-looking-for-trends-subjects-to-catch-a-spark-but/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...careful the morning lest it wake from slumber the city half-encumbered by the morning mist ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/careful-the-morning-lest-it-wake-from-slumber-the-city-half/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...I've decided ... love is an eternity of slow motion replays ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/i-ve-decided-love-is-an-eternity-of-slow-motion-replays/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“... my early writing was a silent fury - at what or whom, I had no idea - but I shut it in until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/my-early-writing-was-a-silent-fury-at-what-or-whom-i-had-no-idea-but/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...little children adore me - I'm a Troll Tamer and they know it!...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/little-children-adore-me-i-m-a-troll-tamer-and-they-know-it/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...all this time I've been worshiping you - when other men wanted to kiss you, I've been offering the praise of my lips...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/all-this-time-i-ve-been-worshiping-you-when-other-men-wanted-to-kiss/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“... the scarlet thread,the red clay from which we were made, runs in tiny streams through all our veins, reminding us of where we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-scarlet-thread-the-red-clay-from-which-we-were-made-runs-in-tiny/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...you are not what you seem - you're a Sylph - you leave and the air retains your image - you haunt me...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/you-are-not-what-you-seem-you-re-a-sylph-you-leave-and-the-air/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...God daubs stars into galaxies with fiery paint - the same lacquer he uses upon your lips...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/god-daubs-stars-into-galaxies-with-fiery-paint-the-same-lacquer-he/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...language always occurs in a context - you can speak Elizabethan words, but to speak the language you have to put on the mindset...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/language-always-occurs-in-a-context-you-can-speak-elizabethan-words/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...the feelings that pass between us are deeper than fleshly touches...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-feelings-that-pass-between-us-are-deeper-than-fleshly-touches/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...open the access to your heart and write down what your voice is whispering...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/open-the-access-to-your-heart-and-write-down-what-your-voice-is/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [...true love is an irrevocable act - you can only give your heart away once - after that, you give as much as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/true-love-is-an-irrevocable-act-you-can-only-give-your-heart-away/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [“...the strands that connect us are frail, so don't hang great weights on slender wires...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/the-strands-that-connect-us-are-frail-so-don-t-hang-great-weights-on/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

> [...not even the wind can bring a tear to my eye the way you do...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/not-even-the-wind-can-bring-a-tear-to-my-eye-the-way-you-do/)

[John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

[Explore all 301 John Geddes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/)

## More Love quotes

> [Whatever meaning 'Annie's Song' had for me on a personal level, there was also a larger context. It could just as easily have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/whatever-meaning-annie-s-song-had-for-me-on-a-personal-level-there/)

[John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/)

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/)

[Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/)

> [Life works most perfectly when a reciprocal love relationship is in place between man and God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/life-works-most-perfectly-when-a-reciprocal-love-relationship-is-in/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [We talk to God--that is prayer; God talks to us--that is inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-emilie-cady/we-talk-to-god-that-is-prayer-god-talks-to-us-that-is-inspiration/)

[H. Emilie Cady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-emilie-cady/)

> [I fell in love with social work, and that was my undoing as a poet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rakosi/i-fell-in-love-with-social-work-and-that-was-my-undoing-as-a-poet/)

[Carl Rakosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rakosi/)

> [You cant be controlling in improv.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/you-cant-be-controlling-in-improv/)

[Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/)

> [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [“To be loved by a man, truly loved, made a woman feel as if she could burst. Of course, Lia was strong and could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-anne/to-be-loved-by-a-man-truly-loved-made-a-woman-feel-as-if-she-could/)

[Melody Anne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-anne/)

> [So when you take those tears, don't look to see I'm alright. …\*Seal - Violet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/so-when-you-take-those-tears-don-t-look-to-see-i-m-alright-seal-violet/)

[Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/)

> [Two things revolutionised life: moving to the countryside and falling in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-love/two-things-revolutionised-life-moving-to-the-countryside-and-falling/)

[Nick Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-love/)

> [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/)

[Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/)

> [I could program a 'fabulous, I love it' kind of hit season right now. I'm more interested in breaking boundaries, telling a story, defying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-wolfe/i-could-program-a-fabulous-i-love-it-kind-of-hit-season-right-now-i-m/)

[George C. Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-wolfe/)

[Browse all 233,035 Love quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night, but write of love?...”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Geddes"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-endless-night-but-write-of-love/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Love"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-endless-night-but-write-of-love/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/67d/john-geddes-1052_love_what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-e_1013697.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“...what else would a poet priest do on an endless night, but write of love?...” — John Geddes",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Geddes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“...what else would a poet priest...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-endless-night-but-write-of-love/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/what-else-would-a-poet-priest-do-on-an-endless-night-but-write-of-love/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
