A profound, brilliant, moving, amazing poem my son wrote last week:

Past Dawned Upon

Trekking onward,

Over hills,

Through valleys.

The sun sets,

The shadows creep,

Danger comes upon me.

***

I’ve been through here,

Once before.

Long ago.

Fear grips at me,

As I see a familiar face.

It laughs at me,

As I walk nervously.

***

I feel abandoned,

The lantern is out,

The darkness surrounds me.

I have to get out.

I can’t stay here.

They are coming again,

For revenge.

***

Can no one save me,

From this hole?

Am I doomed to repeat,

A past fate?

***

A single thread,

Is holding holding me together,

Should it snap,

What will become of me?

***

I moan within,

Nowhere to flee.

They’re everywhere,

Sucking away my sanity,

Sucking away my life.

***

Oh Light, where art Thou?!

Why have you left me?

***

This is the Trial of my Soul,

I want to reach out for help,

But I fear of dragging them down with me.

Must I fight this alone?

***

Where is myself?

I cannot afford to revert.

Anger grips at me,

Hatred,

Hopelessness,

Loneliness.

It has returned with vengeance.

***

Have I called this upon myself?

Am I a filthy man?

Surely this is not my final hour.

I shall not return to that cage…

***

Oh Light,

I cry to Thee,

And Thou hasn’t heard me!

Have I wronged Thee so?

Am I deserving of such demonic beatings?

***

I know that I am sinful,

The worst of all,

But do not abandon me!

Without You, I am nothing.

I will return to the dust.

***

I cry invisible tears,

I wear a mask.

People think I’ve got it together,

But the Temple is crumbling.

I can’t keep it up,

The beasts are forcing their way in.

Oh Light,

Where art Thou?!

***

I am failing,

I am scared,

Is it my fate to return,

To the old me?

Why have they returned to taunt me?

***

Shall I become an empty shell again?

Shall they steal my soul?

Gnaw upon it and feast?

Oh Light,

Hear my final desperate cry!

For I am at my human limit!

***

Do not let me fall back into the black sludge,

From a Past Once Dawned Upon!

Save me!

For within I weep.

If Thou shall not save me,

Who will?

~*~*~*~