The Passing Of The Night

By Joanne Van Leerdam

People experience all kinds of night: loneliness, grief, depression, anxiety, fear, pain, and countless other darknesses.

This collection of profound lyrical poems explores the poet's own experiences and observations of both dark and light, revealing her determination to not only survive, but to conquer whatever tries to overcome her. 

At the end of it all, the poet demonstrates that the smallest sign of light is enough to help a wandering soul find hope in the passing of the night. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: WordyNerdBird
• Release date: Aug 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781974417988

Joanne Van Leerdam

Joanne Van Leerdam is a poet, blogger, writer, thinker, puzzler, teacher, traveller, photographer and generally nice person. Despite having lived all her life in Australia, she has, thus, far, avoided being killed or consumed by any of the deadly wildlife, which is probably a good thing.  Other than Australia, Canada is her favourite place in the world.  In addition to writing powerful, thought-provoking poetry and short-but-incredibly meaningful stories,  she teaches senior high school English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.   Her poetry is contemporary, sensual, moody and easy to read - and it will get you in the feelings.

Book preview

For everyone who journeys through the shadows.

Copyright ©2017 by Joanne Van Leerdam.

––––––––

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

––––––––

Cover Image: Public domain, labeled for reuse from http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com.

Edited and enhanced by Joanne Van Leerdam, 2017.

1st Edition, August 2017

Published by WordyNerdBird for

Joanne Van Leerdam

www.jvlpoet.com

[e-mail]

CONTENTS

The Passing Of The Night

Muse

Sediments

Shrouded

Stronger

Wanderlust

Ironic

Sea of Faces

Of Cookies

Over-Complicated

The Knowing of Grief

Chasing My Tail

The Light Bulb

Bitter Pill

Safe

Still Here

Hiraeth

Old Man

Abandoned

The Country Town Bookstore

Apple Trees

Reality Check

Tainted

Cold Shoulder

Fateful Words

Drought

Over Her Shoulder

Amber

Christmas Eve, Despondent

Hostage

Lonely Girl

I Missed All The Beautiful Things Today

Tall Poppy

An Autumn Evening In The Rain

Note To Self 

The Duel

Train Of Thought

Voodoo Doll

En Garde

Sky Princess

One Less Star

River Song

Blind

Plea for Equality

Luna

Circus Life

The Tempest

Nevermore

Beyond The Bridge

Through The Shadows

Foreverness

The Passing Of The Night.

The inky stillness of deepest night 

Banishes even the moon's pale light;

From a ghostly gum tree, serene and tall,

An owl hoots its lonely watchman's call.

Hypnotised, creation falls under 

The seductive spell of silent slumber

While nocturnal creatures eat their fill

And pursue their animal pleasures,'til

The velvet darkness of the witching hour

Concedes its melancholy haunting power

To the break of dawn, like ruby fire

Burning brighter as the flames climb higher. 

In the fickle morning light it seems

The lingering ghosts of last night's dreams 

Masquerade as the early morning mist,

Gathering in a silent spectral tryst

That obscures all that lies behind

Those hazy walls in both field and mind,

Until the radiant