Dark Personified

[msredd]

The gentle touch, the soft embrace
That tickles my toes and kisses my face
‘Til morning breaks, and away it’s chased.
Kept at bay ‘til dusk walks by,
And Mother holds tight to the sky.

Then, slowly walking through the street
Recovers from its last retreat
Draped gently like an endless sheet.
Covering windows, closing doors,
Only to recede once more.

Peacefully timid, eagerly shy
Patiently waiting to explore.

I thought it was interesting that you portrayed darkness as such a light, gentle thing when it's so often portrayed as the opposite; I almost felt as if I was reading about a friend. I wonder if you could be clearer as to what the dark is to you in this poem? Phrases like "kept at bay" and "away it's chased" seem to imply that the dark isn't so great a thing as it needs to be held in check, but most of the poem seems to imply otherwise. I really like the last line, "Patiently waiting to explore"; I like the image of darkness exploring the things and places it hits.