The Dark Days
©December 6th, 2018
By Vijaya Sundaram
The dark days come suddenly
Like a shadow beast in a dream
Chasing you up and down that staircase
In an old abandoned house,
Where you alone live.
The dark days come suddenly
And you run and run away
From them, finding solace in light
From artificial sources, from stories
Other than yours.
And you wonder to yourself
How did we ever emerge from the abyss
Into a world so spherical that
We have to fight to stay in light,
And spurn this darkness that
Snaps at our heels
A creature chasing us forever
In this vast house, held together
In a dream beyond a dream?
And you ask yourself this question,
Even as you run and run
Even as the shadow beast chases you,
Even as your heart beats faster,
Even as you turn to face it, finally,
Even as you say, I am tired of running,
And you turn, eyes open in terror
And fold your arms, and stand,
And the beast lies down, and whines.
All it asks is for you to feed it.
It is your shadow,
It is your darkness,
It is your best friend,
And it is hungry.
That is all.
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