Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific science and sci-fi authors wrote a short story called 'Nightfall'. In it there was a planet that had no night due to multiple suns. Their world had known only daylight and when scientists found an astronomical anomaly was going to throw the world into darkness for the first time, it greatly alarmed them. Rightly so, because it ended civilization as they knew it. People went berserk, rioted, everything just went crazy.
I've wondered what would happen if we were in that situation. I wouldn't expect it to end all for us, but imagine the fear of total darkness never before known. We would be warned, but how would we handle it?
The night has a spell. It always has, in story, in literature, in the minds of people. Life that hides by day comes out at night, to stalk, to eat, to rumple the fears of children - there is something outside the window, or in the closet. Creatures of the night.
I think of the difference between daylight and dark and always have. How drastic is that, anyway? The daylight with the world in your face, blue sky and the sun.
At night your reach seems to go on forever into the murky depths, imagination comes alive with the cosmos magically appearing after sunset, exhibiting its magnificent splendor through the stars without number.
The night is filled with its unknowns, its curiosities, which makes it a natural for minds to wander into places left empty in daytime. More times than I can count, I've sat on a log in the desert at night, scanning a forbidden landscape illuminated by bodies far away, listening to the sounds of the sun on the other side of the world. At a time like that, you feel the ground, feel the breeze, feel the very presence of your body lost in wilderness....
a time for thought, to reach into the silence of your mind and feel the depth of your being.
Only the night has the jewels of the sky.
Only the night can set you free in its special way.
Only the night has the presence to deliver thoughts through the darkness of this naked form, and grab the inner light of the soul.
Its the spell of the night.
beyondtheveil posted on May 10, 2009
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Comments
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Lioness said on May 11, 2009....
If I've never known what darkness is, I would be very scary I'd stock up a lot of rechargeable lamps. :D
There's always something mysterious about the night.
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superbozo said on May 11, 2009....
I love being out in the middle of nowhere at night. The sounds the smells. The shadows. How clear the night sky is without the light polution from the city. A simple little fire.As the night takes over you can truely be.I'm going to have to look that book up thanks beyond. -
Hegemone said on May 11, 2009....
Oh what an interesting post Beyond! I think it would bring about a certain level of pandemonium for a while, but eventually we would all adapt, as any species would. Some may not survive, our behaviors and emotions might change, and life as we knew it would be forever different, but we would survive in the end. I can't say I'd favor the darkness because I need the light to appreciate the beauty of night, and the same in reverse. Beyond that, I could probably handle it for a little while if we had high powered enough lights to give us some sort of image of "light". After a while it wears a person thin I'd bet. Personally, I'd be one of those suckers who let her imagination get to her, it's very easy to depict what's out in the shadows five feet beyond my finger tips, breathing onto them, smelling my own scents and lying in wait ... even if it is just a tree trunk. So, yes, I think we'd get through it with a little panic and confusion at first ... and we would survive definitely ... but that doesn't mean I want it to happen for sure. -
uniquely-ironic said on May 11, 2009....
Besides the issue of plants needing light, I would think we would adapt to a forever night, some more easily than others. I enjoy both light and dark, but honestly I would miss the feel of sunshine on my skin more than the peacefullness of a dark night. -
beyondtheveil said on May 11, 2009....
I led all of you astray and after rereading the post I can see why. That planet wasn't left in perpetual darkness, I believe it was only one night. Asimov was expressing what mass fear might do if they were suddenly cast into the unknown of darkness.
But no matter, I wouldn't want forever night either. I too would miss the sun and its warmth, not to mention survival. I could see the survivors turning white over time and and perhaps having insects as regular fare.
I still love the night, though. I've always been a night person for its special qualities of all kinds of closeness. The world shrinks here and expands above. The mind can be turned loose on itself.
I'll thank the daytime for bringing me my food and lawn mowing and keeping the night alive.
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Hegemone said on May 11, 2009....
Ah well, if it was just for one night I'm pretty sure we've got a little more preparedness and stamina for that, I mean, look at what Alaska has to deal with ... they'd all be laughing at the rest of us poor saps who didn't know what to do. -
gingersoul said on May 11, 2009....
BeyBey......i like the night too.
It means pause and mystery, reflecting and sinning, solitude and intimacy....all in one....
If we would live only in the dark our skin would be so pale...phosphorescent maybe, like those abyssal fishes in the depth of the oceans....i would like it.....
But, maybe, to really appreciate the night ...we need the day....:-)
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secretlife said on May 11, 2009....
i love night.....but agree with ging that without day it might be hard to appreciate the night.
isn't it great we have both? and the season change + daylight savings means we have longer days......longer dusk.......and warmer nights.....yippeee!
you have the poet in you beyond, that's for sure!
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beyondtheveil said on May 11, 2009....
ginsoul- You could bring up any video of the daytime regardless of how beautiful and the eyes are watching reality, the mind can wander.. yes, but you are looking at color, or action, or scenery. Contrast that with your second video for instance, and you automatically seep into words like you mentioned..pause, mystery, reflection, solitude, sinning, intimacy, and many others. Its the spell of the night.
secret- I long all winter for warmer nights. Twilight, the most beautiful, preparing me for the awe and mystery of the dark. I immerse myself in its wonder, my hand deep into my dogs furry neck.....then my wife turns on the porch light, the music, and wants to play scrabble....
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secretlife said on May 11, 2009....
lmao! the real world keeps on intruding!!!! -
Lucytorial said on May 11, 2009....
There have been many wonderful poems about night and darkness, it elicits a physicological need within us all to live in light.For me the night/darkness is a place and time to really be, comfort, no words, just floating. Day time is for doing night time is for feeling that protected warmth within. -
gingersoul said on May 11, 2009....
BeyBey....and isn't great playing Scrubble in that light?.....still day, yet already nigth?....
Twilight is the time of the magic and the fairies, after all..:-)
I love summer nights....voluptuous, long, warm, perfumed, adventurous....
Winter nights makes me deliciously sleepy though......but i have cold feet that always need to be warmed up before falling asleep........lol..
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beyondtheveil said on May 11, 2009....
lucy- You are so right - the daytime is for doing. I take care of all the necessities and let the playful night come. And there have been a lot of songs written too- "Strangers in the Night"...
ginsoul- And just exactly what is Romeo for, but to warm cold feet? If you let him at the foot of the bed, on cold winter nights, slide your feet under him and drift comfortably into slumber. They are triple 'A' foot warmers.
I love twilight also, fairies and all.
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gingersoul said on May 11, 2009....
BeyBey.....you know?....I never let my dog sleeping on my bed........maybe i should start.......lol.....
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fragglesrock said on May 11, 2009....
that book sounds like a good one.
i'm not so keen on constant night, i don't look so hot without a tan.
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queenparanoia said on May 11, 2009....
i would probably adapt to the dark and since night time is my favorite part in a 24 hour period. although it would make me paranoid and would probably have those "30 days of night" movie on my head... scary... -
beyondtheveil said on May 11, 2009....
fraggles- The book is fun if you like sci-fi and don't question the science too much.
queenie- Actually, I'd get a bit paranoid with nothing but night also.