Aurora, you are the glowing dawn
that follows night; but should
I rejoice? You drive the hours
of blest oblivion away,
and then my heart festers.

Let me embrace the safer darkness
once again. She is the joyless epoch
that promises nothing;
nothing I expect; but at least
she is consistent without a promise
in her nothingness.

Let me remain in my starless world
and thus survive, for your radiance
would only melt the essence that seals
my heart’s fissures. Aurora—you are beautiful,
but so is the deadly cone shellfish.
~~~~~~~~~~