Darkness

a poem about daring to take a risk and love someone else again, knowing the other person has the power to save your life, or destroy it

Old boards yaw, as she ascends

Her step as light as air

Brittle scent of madness descends

Under the broken light's glare.

 

Darkness calls me

Heaven is near I know

Darkness called me

Crazy is where I go.

  

Russet glow of disarrayed hair

The door long stoppered admits

Halo'd by midnight's darkest air

Everything around her submits. 

 

Darkness calls me

She knows I cant say no

Darkness called me

My soul has just let go

 

The clock long frozen winds back

Faint breath not seen or heard

Time unwinds, the dark walls crack

She calls but speaks no word.

 

Darkness calls me

Dread uncoils so slow

Darkness called me

To Bliss and Hell I go.

 

I feel her near, her shape unseen

She glides from hall to room

Darkest shadows deepest sheen

Dry whispers through the gloom.

 

Darkness calls me

Hope and life does grow

Darkness called me

And she casts no shadow.

 

Rejoined at last, enmeshed in love

Time's arrow now fully adjourns

Stars burn & die in the dark above

As the madness and passion returns.

 

Darkness calls me

Life and magic follow

Darkness called me

Ended all the sorrow.

 

Then I awoke from this fevered scene

As the light of the new day betrays

Cruel tears born of raw phosphene

Back in a reality painted in greys.

 

Darkness calls me

I no longer fight the flow

Darkness called me

I drift to the gathering glow.

 

Author's Note

this is the third poem I have written, and the first I have publicly posted.

Reviews

[Natalie]

"Darkness calls me"

This phrase together with the photo that has been included suggests that "Darkness" is a a metaphor for an apparition of a woman.
"To Bliss and Hell I go" implies a struggle between opposing forces which is resolved at the end.
"I no longer fight the flow
Darkness called me
I drift to the gathering glow".

This poem very much reminded me of the ending in the novel "Wuthering Heights" when the tortured
Heathcliff accepts his fate and joins the ghostly Catherine in the afterlife.
Thanks for sharing. I am looking forward to reading more of your work.

[Skalved]

The poem is about a reunion after an absence. An extremely long absence. I have tried to convey the tense anticipation, the fear of the unknown, and the anxiety of how it will turn out. Also of the resistance, due to the fears. Darkness is almost irresistible, and ultimately triumphs. The fears and doubts die, & completeness beckons. It is just a dream. But the end of the poem suggests accept what will be, change is not easy, it is the way forward to happiness. The picture with this story is an original, of an old friend.

[Sami Khalil]

Very well written sir. Very well conveyed...Bravo................

[softlyspoken]

I really enjoyed this poem it was an appropiate length. I like how the story unfolds and the methaphors that are used to depict your journey through stuggles between good and bad. And how you no longer struggle you now summit. Keep up the good work.

[emmajoy]

'..Russet glow of disarrayed hair.. ' lyrical phrase.

This appears to be a poem about passion with a distinct gothic touch.. a more than mysterious air wanders 'hall to room' and around. Your finish packs a fine tho melancholic completion, i so like the, '.. Cruel tears born of raw phosphene ~ Back in a reality painted in greys.' .. .. '.. Darkness called me ~ I drift to the gathering glow.' Meter/metre near expert, truly hope you post more. Meantime, many thanks for sharing!

[Skalved]

Thanks for taking the time to read the poem.

The poem was written about 6 months ago, while going through a fairly intense emotional time. It is based on that experience.

It wasn't my aim to write a gothic piece, & I didn't even recognise that was a good description of it, till a week after it was written, it's just how it developed. I used to enjoy reading Poe, and Wuthering Heights was an old favourite, so they are very likely influences.

I'm glad you like the finish.

I appreciate your kind words, and am encouraged to write more, thanks again :)

[Skalved]

Natalie thanks for reading the poem, and for your comments. You have an understanding of what I was trying to convey.

Yes definitely Darkness is a female, referred to as 'she' and 'her', though she may not be human, given the description that her steps are as light as air, and a door long closed admits her, also she glides from hall to room. She also has powers, as she approaches the boards yaw (or move) and a broken light bulb casts a light, walls crack, broken clock winds back, etc.

The poem is describing a struggle. The person writing it fears her, but ultimately wants to give in, and does. And does not seem to regret it. What happens then is either death, or an analogy of death, given it may just be acceptance of their fate, and not death at all. This was all a dream. The writer awakes, and the dream may actually just be a manifestation of a problem or fear that the writer has in real life, and the writer realises the dream tells them to not be afraid, and accept what will be.