One night I dreamed a dream
So real I knew that I was there
I walked in sunlight warm and bright
‘Neath sky so blue and fair
Flowers bloomed profusely
On the landscape of my mind
Their beauty took my breath away
My joy was unconfined
I rambled far and wide in peace
Alone within my soul
And found contentment in the sounds
Of nature’s carmagnole
I lost track of everything
The place, the day, the time
Enchanted by the glorious light
As bells began to chime
Then suddenly the day was changed
The sun no longer shone
The sky was dark, the wind increased
And I was all alone
No bee or butterfly was seen
No squirrel danced in the tree
No rabbit hid behind a bush
I heard no chickadee
Oppression became tangible
A touch a taste a feel
I knew that I would not survive
This terrible ordeal
I wondered long in forest dark
Pursued by my worst fear
Stark branches grabbed my hair and clothes
Dread images pressed near
Then through the tangled forest brush
I saw a flickering light
And as I watched it steadied
To a beacon cold and bright
Then to my fascinated gaze
The brush began to move
And in its place appeared a path
Paved long and straight and smooth
My heart rose up in panic as
The roadway still grew long
Clearing out the undergrowth
Straight for the beacon strong
I had no other options
But to walk that pathway bleak
I had been lead to this one place
My destiny to seek
I forced myself to set my foot
Upon the smooth paved way
And walked with fear and trembling
Holding terror just at bay
The pathway led into a grove
As lifeless as the wood
No warmth from blazing torches
I’d have fled there if I could
A man appeared before me
Fair of face and blond of hair
With eyes like blocks of ebony
Cold, lifeless with despair
He called my name with longing
My curiosity to peak
As in a trance I moved to him
My will was very weak
And then an old man entered
Bent over gnarled cane
His voice in sweetness startled me
As he called out my name
His face was filled with peace and love
His eyes held joy and life
He warned me of the danger
And he’d see me out of strife
The young man blazed in anger
Ridiculed the old man’s ways
Offered wealth and fame and pleasure
For all my earthly days
His lips curved in a smile
But his eyes were cold and black
Like a serpent with it’s hunted
And my heart was taken back
The old man moved in closer
To stand beside him near
And I compared the two of them
My heart raced new in fear
The old man frail and feeble
No competition would he be
For the young one strong and able
In a fight to set me free
Then from the corner of my eye
Dark shapes came into view
They moved to tangle me around
My panic rose anew
Help me, oh please help me
To escape this evil snare
He raised his cane, said one soft word
They vanished in the air
And as I look in awe around
The torches all were gone
The sunlight filtered threw the trees
Epiphany of dawn
Flowers bloomed, grass turned green
Trees leafed out in full
The old man turned, his hand
Held out, an overwhelming pull
I really looked into his eyes
All seeing yet so mild
Come with me, I’ll see you home
I died for you, my child. |
