Shannon

I

there is Hope in the shadows

light through the trees

barring the passage

of Darkness

through the world.

the small dusty corners,

simple tools,

and rusted swords will march forward.

and Darkness will

shrink from their courage,

from their stand in the face of fear—

of all that the black depths

of the human soul can hold.

II

on the wind there came cries

and clashes of battle:

fierce and wild.

Darkness slashed its

flinty claws,

and shrieked.

and the great cloud recoiled

from the feeble force of resistance.

shouts rose up, of unfounded celebration,

then Darkness threw itself forward—

enveloping the righteous

in its choking embrace.

terror wound itself through the heart,

cold and snaking like a vine:

leeching strength from the fallen opposition.

and Hope was lost.

III

then one

a single Man

opened his eyes—

and saw through the heart of

Darkness.

He saw through the shadow,

and swirling mist,

and He chose:

He chose not to be afraid

of the being surrounding him;

of that which struck terror into the essence of others.

—and instead saw Darkness for what it was.

the smoke cleared,

and faded:

with it dissipating the mass of fear-feeding insubstance,

That had no true power over Man

until He gave it His soul.