November Nocturne: At Night

A Parallel Planets piece by Unknown

Parallel Planets presents
November Nocturne: At Night

Story and Poetry by Joy Celine Asto
Film Photography by Nadia Maria

Mentioned: stargazing, sleepless nights, love stories, and the witching hour

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I have always been a night person. It's when my mind is at its most active, playful, creative, and productive. I know my fellow night owls will agree that there's something about the stillness and quiet of the night that lets the mind just run free and do its thing. Writing has been a big part of my life and most of it I've done in the dead of the night. Writing poetry is something I've never been good at, so I eventually stopped trying. But, for some reason, the Muses have been kind and the verses are starting to come back -- at the ungodliest of hours. At Night, for example, came to me effortlessly one sleepless night -- in the wee hours of the morning, actually. I tried writing The Witching Hour one afternoon, but I guess with a title (and subject) like that, the ideas -- and the proper state of mind -- won't come until 3 a.m. Star Mapping is a scenario borne out of a seaside star-gazing session that lasted until around 1 a.m., while At Night (Reprise) is a love letter of sorts for everyone who shares this fixation for the night with me.

Meanwhile, I have always been fascinated with the works of São Paulo-based photographer Nadia Maria since I first discovered and eventually wrote about them. Upon finishing everything, I realized that there's an elegant darkness in her photos that would perfectly complement my poems. 

Without further ado, I present four love stories that can happen only at night.

From Nadia Maria's voz series

At Night

For the first time in years

I've learned how to sleep in the dark again.

I lie on my back, half-naked

Feeling the sheets as if they're your arms around me.

In the faintest of light from the window

I see your outline next to me

and I watch the rise and fall of your breathing.

Then, a blink takes you away.

It's always when we can't see

that we feel so much.

From Nadia Maria's inspirame series

Star Mapping

Bathed in darkness and clothed in stars,

we lie wide-eyed on the sand.

We look up at the flickers of blue and white,

and I hear you say, "Connect the dots 

like child's play among the gods."

I point at Orion poised to strike 

an unseen prey; you turn your gaze

at Polaris instead.

We watched the rest 

dance around the north's brightest.

We map their spots

We draw their lines

We conjure illusions

But their paths are never ours.

From Nadia Maria's Petala series

The Witching Hour

3 a.m.

I light a candle for

each nagging question,

secret wish, and fervent prayer.

I stand in the circle of flames 

that flicker, dance, and shiver

at my errant steps.

My restless sighs, ragged breaths

permeate and punctuate the ungodly hour.

The clock is ticking, time won’t wait

so I utter the words that 

will cast a spell to bewitch you,

charm and beguile you.

“May the gods that hold power

over these darkest hours

heed my ardent prayer

and bring to heel the stubborn lover

whose heart and mind

I cannot conquer.”

3am by Nadia Maria

At Night (Reprise)

We both find solace 

in the dead of night

in the calm that heightens 

senses and grips our minds.

Our paths converge

in the dark of night.

Time melts, distance fades

dreams come without the shut-eye.

At night, the world is still

and there is nothing but you and I.

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Editor's Note: This feature is a part of our "black" theme, November Nocturne. To share your work on Parallel Planets, click here to know what we're currently looking for. You may also read more from Joy Celine Asto.