Behinds Quote by Margaret Atwood
“Night falls. Or has fallen. Why is it that night falls, instead of rising, like the dawn? Yet if you look east, at sunset, you can see night rising, not falling; darkness lifting into the sky, up from the horizon, like a black sun behind cloud cover. Like smoke from an unseen fire, a line of fire just below the horizon, brushfire or a burning city. Maybe night falls because it’s heavy, a thick curtain pulled up over the eyes. Wool blanket.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Unnamed, 1995
The poem muses on night’s descent, using paradoxical imagery to convey its weight and mystery.
In simple terms: Night feels heavy and mysterious.
Key Takeaway
Embrace the mystery of night.
Themes
night
perception
paradox
imagery
nature
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- writing
- contemplation
- nighttime rituals
- artistic inspiration
Key Concepts
light
darkness
time
visual metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- What does night symbolize for you?
- How do you find comfort in darkness?
A Different Perspective
It may romanticize darkness without addressing fear it can provoke.
