Collection of Poetry on Near Dark

Collection of Poetry on Near Dark

by Emily Padegimas

“Night”

In the night the sun hides, casting a darkness over the sky,

Causing Most to retreat for rest and relief, but causing some to start out for sustenance and survival.

Each night is the same, these Few need only the twinkle of the stars and glow of the moon, 

As they hunt those who have yet to reach home, turning tricks and feasting so that their prey may never leave the night again.

Night signifies solitude and suspicion for Most, yet it presents freedom and fortune for the Few,

No longer must they hide away, for when the sun hides they roam free.

Night brings them eternity.

“Dawn”

At dawn the sun begins to come out of hiding, casting a dim glow over the sky,

Causing Most to rise and rub the sleep from their eyes, but causing the Few to retire to their home for lightness is near.

Uncertainty looms as dawn endures, night and day bleed together as the moon and stars wave to the sun as they pass by, as the Few watch this exchange with expectancy knowing should the moon move too quickly they may take their last breaths.

Dawn brings them danger, danger in the form of burning rays, danger in the form of Most, danger that may ward off any more nights.

Dawn is a great enemy.

“Day”

In the day the sun is out of hiding, casting a blinding brightness over the sky,

Causing Most to start out for substance and survival, but causing the Few to retreat for rest and relief.

Each day is the same, covered up windows, abandoned barns, layers on layers, 

As the Few search for slumber in seclusion for fear of what consequences await should the scorching sun reach their sensitive skin.

Day presents freedom and fortune for Most, yet it signifies solitude and suspicion for the Few,

No longer do they roam free, for when the sun shines they must hide away.

Day brings them death.

“Dusk”

At dusk the sun begins its descent into hiding, casting a shadow over the sky,

Causing Most to retire to their homes for darkness is near, but causing the Few to rise and rub the sleep from their eyes.

Uncertainty looms as dusk endures, day and night bleed together as the sun waves to the moon and stars as it passes by, as the Few watch this exchange with expectancy knowing should the sun move too slowly they may not get their last drink.

Dusk brings them hope, hope that night is imminent, hope that day is gone, hope that they may last another night.

Dusk is a great ally.

Night to Dawn to Day to Dusk,

It is an endless cycle which all follow, but Most are not punished if they should break it.

Should day become night and night become day, they will continue on their way with no hesitation.

For the Few, though, the cycle is strict, for if they waver they shall perish. 

For dusk is a great ally and night is eternal, but dawn is an enemy and day is their death.

*I adapted Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark into a set of poems based on the times of day: night, dawn, day, and dusk. These are very much relevant in terms of the ‘vampires’ in the film, but each poem also possesses the underlying meanings of othering that Near Dark suggests of the ‘vampire family.’ The poems do not focus on the exact plot of the film, but rather the relation of the Few (vampires) to the rest of society and time with a sort of parallelism running through the foils which convey this notion (i.e. dawn and dusk; night and day).