The hour between night and day. The hour between toss and turn. The hour of thirty-year-olds. The hour swept clean for roosters' crowing. The hour when the earth takes back its warm embrace. The hour of cool drafts from extinguished stars. The hour of do-we-vanish-too-without-a-trace. Empty hour. Hollow. Vain. Rock bottom of all the other hours. No one feels fine at four a.m. If ants feel fine at four a.m., we're happy for the ants. And let five a.m. come if we've got to go on living. Still Life with a Balloon
The poem captures the essence of the early hours of the morning, particularly that unsettling hour around four a.m. Beyond representing a specific time, it conveys a universal feeling of emptiness and introspection that often accompanies the stillness of night transitioning into day. It describes a time filled with uncertainty and reflection, where individuals face their innermost thoughts and fears, questioning their existence and significance.
As the poem progresses, it acknowledges the contrast between human experiences and the natural world, hinting at a sense of isolation felt by those awake at this hour. Despite the darkness, it whispers a longing for the dawn, suggesting a desire for connection and hope as life continues. The mention of the calmness experienced by ants serves as a poignant reminder that nature moves on, even in human struggle, and highlights the shared experience of life, regardless of one's circumstances.
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