Weakness,
A single tear
Streaking down
My cheek.
Time pauses
As the drop of
Pure sorrow
Lingers,
Like an afterthought,
As silent
As breathless stone.

Cold tile
Pressed against
My forehead,
Soothing the raging fire inside,
Embracing my wild emotions
With an icy, calming touch,
Like Winter’s breath
Or death’s cold caress.

Silence,
As loud as thunder,
Vibrating through the air,
Filling my ears,
My soul,
With darkness;
Pure and sweet
Like a forbidden candy.

Night
Envelopes me
Like a worried mother,
Not speaking,
Just comforting.

She holds me
Closely,
Tucking me under
The black wing of night,
Providing shelter
For a trembling child.

Expanding her wings,
Twinkling with the light
Of distant stars:
Each one a soul
Returned to its rightful place,
Each one her daughter,
She flies high
And carries me
With her,
In gentle talons,
To soar with her
Above pain
And sorrow.

I fly,
Cradled in her
Giant talons,
Careless and free,
Throwing off my cloak
Of false brightness
And embracing my
True darkness,
My way to shine.

The raven,
Night itself,
Swoops down to earth,
And drops my soul
Gently
Back into my
Motionless body,
Whispering farewell
With unspoken words.

Splash,
Time returns
At full force,
The tear falls
Into a salty puddle
Beneath my head,
A tear transformed.
Sorrow vanquished,
Calmness in its place;
An echo of unspoken words
Silently fills my slow-returning
Hearing,
As I whisper goodbye.

Hand pressed against
My heart;
I sigh passionately,
Longing for the
Gentle rustle of starlit wings,
Longing for the
Cool rush of night air
Stroking my forehead,
Longing for the
Sense of flying free,
Leaving my struggles behind.

I gaze
Out my window,
Watching the blinking stars
Fade one by one
Into the waking dawn,
Watching the blazing sun
Burst into the
Morning sky,
Leaving streaks
Of bright, happy colors:
Pinks, yellows, and oranges.

I reluctantly
Don my cloak
Of brightness,
As I have not yet learned
To embrace my darkness,
And show it to the world,
In the light of day.

Light
Surrounds me,
Pressing in from all sides,
But I have the strength
To walk among it today,
Head held high,
And one day
I will be strong enough
To shed my cloak of light
Forever,
And shine
Day and night
With darkness,
Soaring on healed wings.