trilogy of healing

Children of the night

Children of the night
sleep lightly fearing
the scent of rum and old spice

dreams do not bring rest
only terror

wrapped in the terror of
gingham and pinstripes
a lifetime away
from
a happy childhood

torn and ripped and weak
from never knowing
when the evil will
reach out and
strangle the last
vestiges of innocence.

no future
a life of loss and
self-abuse
and darkness
the children of the night
linger

waiting for the
light.

interim
shallow cuts
ever deepening
numbness invading
the places where joy
should
live.

always fighting
the smells
of torture
welcoming pain
and grief

agony deep seeded
no relief
to come
and they walk
still alone
hurt, dying
dead

the children of the night
linger

waiting for the
light.

Revenge
you are dead
you bastard
and we survive
strong and compassionate

beyond survival
we live
filling our
darkness
with light

we live
well and happy
no longer blindly
stumbling in
agony
absorbed the scars
and became
whole and
real
and healthy

no longer
hiding
behind
pain and
numbness

standing up
shouting
to the world
"bastards die the death
their life deserves"

we forgive you

the children of the night
gather silently
and celebrate
all the wisdom
bought with terror and
pain
and
linger

welcoming
the light


(revised edition, original written in 1991)
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