Darkness — Summary

In the dark, the speaker stops to watch what first looks like a star shining in a boghole. Almost immediately, the image shifts: it is no longer a star but a silver ribbon of light. That correction matters. The speaker is not looking at the sky; he is catching a reflection or a glimmer on water, and it changes shape as he watches. The mood is quiet, solitary, and a little mysterious. Darkness surrounds the one bright object, making the light feel both beautiful and slightly eerie. There is no panic or fear, only a calm curiosity. The speaker looks at the ribbon of light and then passes on, accepting that the moment is brief. The poem feels like a small meditation on noticing something lovely in an ordinary dark place and letting it go without trying to hold onto it.