Darkest Light

Darkest Light In chambers cold where mirrors murmur, A face once mine now starts to blur. Its edges fray in frozen fear, A soul unstitched from skin sincere. What name I wore has withered, waned, A jest, a ghost, a stain unnamed. Lo! Was I child? Was I flame? Or but a shadow steeped in shame? I cursed the clock, that craven crook, Who stole the youth I never took. Years bled like ink from brittle books, Each page a prison, each look—hooks. The cradle's wail, the devil’s glee, All drowned in dull conformity. Where was my howl? My reckless rite? My chance to chase the choking light? Two roads did fork in twilight’s throat, But coward’s cloak was what I wrote. My heart, it knocked, but I denied— My voice, a scream the void replied. Now here I haunt this cage of bone, Three minds, one mask, forever lone: The child, the man, the thing unsaid— All whispering what I never said. Oh shame! shame, shame—you searing song, You’ve scorched my soul and steered me wrong. The kidnapper of destiny Was not the world—but only me. Beneath this skin, so softly sown, A thousand selves cry out, unknown. And when I die—should death take flight, I’ll haunt the hush… my darkest light.