Darkness of Self

On the far side of nothing is a darkness

chased there by a dream,

and held fast by a vision of new love,

buoyed by a breath of nature and cast

upon the winds of nurturing fire,

faced by a bravery ne'er to be cowed.

Is dark denied dominion o'er self?

When shadows creep upon sunlit walk,

fear not the narrowing of light but

embrace the cool shade and know it.

Blackest night can ne'er penetrate lighted soul

with false dimness; only be self will

may unfettered darkness intrude.

But is dark denied dominion o'er self?

Pin pricks of star light blink and glisten

'gainst velvety smooth night shades,

measuring the either/or of decision.

To be in a field of shadow no lover;

is this to gain a say in love,

or to choose against joy in faithless pain?

Will dark be denied dominion o'er self?

Trueness to a dream exists more or less

in bodiless trails of thoughts in kind,

e'er in motion 'gainst deft deed.

Matched side by side in duty perpetual,

controlled in deed and decision by

necessities of the most noble of causes.

When is dark denied dominion o'er self?

On a cold day in hottest hell, fighting all

manner of foul demons of mind,

self-created, self-empowered, self-released;

only when love is accepted in respect for

it's own, as e'er was extended,

and a door forever slammed comes burst asunder.

Then is dark denied dominion o'er self.

Copyright 1992