Out of the Darkness

Darkness
comes suddenly

and envelopes me.

Startled, I stand frozen

 as the hooded shroud encloses.

Heart beating.

Pulse pounding,

Breath panting.
I am plunged

into the unknown

abyss.


Gasping. Flailing. Thrashing.

Trying to hold on.

To what?

To whom?

I cannot see. 

I cannot hear.

Still  I sense
 a presence.

Who is there?

Twitching,
yanking
 wrestling,
I struggle
 to regain vision.


I grow weary

and collapse.

Anger percolating now.
The blaming begins.

How could You?  I demand.

Where are You?   I call out.

Silence.


I sense you are smiling.
you leave now.
Satisfied.

Hear me! I shout to You.
Answer me!  I scream.

Nothing.

Coldness sets in.

I curl up in the emptiness and shiver.

Wrapping myself in anger and sadness. 

Wet from tears.

Alone, in the quiet stillness.

I surrender.

Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.

Then, a stirring. 

What was that?
A flutter. 

Dim memories return.
A hardening chrysalis.
A dark, watery womb.

A promise forgotten.

I hope.

Are You there? I ask.

Is that You? I try again.
Shhhhhh, a warm breeze
greets me.


Why did You bring me here? I ask.
Silence.
The breeze stops.
Who brought me here? I demand.
Stillness.
You will not play
this game.


It wasn't You, I say,
knowing now.
 No matter, I feel You say
as the first bits of light
penetrate
the darkness.


I AM here.