LIGHT AND DARK

A WOMAN'S FEAR OF THE DARK

You liked the light;
it pushed back the
dark; the dark brought
back fears of childhood;
the spiders hanging
from the ceiling, falling
on the bed or under the bed;
the bogeyman in the closed
cupboard; the doll whose eyes
you were sure followed you
across the room. The light
entered the room and made
patterns on the bedspread
and floor; made contrast of
light and darkness in shadows.

You knew him: he had light
and dark aspects; had dark
eyes and pale skin; had dark
moods and light humour when
the darkness of his mood fled.

Where shall light return? He
came carrying his dark mood
like a cloak. The spider and
bogeyman haunted again. When
will light return and end the pain?