When Darkness Captures

when darkness captures-
(capture darkness)
rush to sun filled day and it's dull

when darkness captures
(capture darkness)
and the heart fills up with liquid darkness,
becomes the pool of inky shadow

below the earth feels hollow
above the sky looks blank and dull
cry for help, a silent echo:
likely didn't cry out loud-
only to the pool of inky shadow

there is no one to help
no one to hurt
not one at all (that matters)
and the faces floating by
are but empty masks-
image reflected (if at all)
only in the pool of inky shadow

life's no good, again; no, never has been
don't remember the light
don't know what it might be like
(to be a person)

then, mood- and moment-
vanishes:

when darkness passes
(release the darkness)
life is good, again; we say it always has been
we don't recall how darkness held us fast
don't recall the inky shadow-
the liquid darkness in our hearts-
is a dream ... don't quite ...
a dream ... don't want ...
don't remember

when darkness passes
(release the darkness)
life is good, again; we say it always has been,
the images of masks are people:
people that reflect in our hearts
and the sunlight burns so brightly

life is good, again; we say it always has been,
we don't recall the inky shadow,
the liquid darkness in our hearts
is a dream ... don't quite ...
a dream ... don't want ...
don't remember



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In dark moments, people, sometimes even one's own self, disappear from view, and hope seems like madness. In bright times, the world is vibrant, crowded, and welcoming, and the discouragement seems petty.

It is like a captain of a ship. At times the sea is calm; at others, stormy. No captain can properly run a ship if he feels that the sea will never again change. But if he can stitch these two disparate experiences together, then he can perhaps navigate the storms with confidence and wisdom, knowing neither disaster nor mania.