January 6, 2021

 

January 6, 2021

I stand upon a hill

    overlooking my city

    searching for a peaceful place to write

Even though the sun

    has not set

    the horizon is dark and moving

        like smoke

The darkness billows out

    covers the land and sky

    moving towards me

 

Street lights flicker on 

    for a second 

    then are extinguished 

        little firecrackers popping

 

I follow the firework display 

    while darkness covers

    the street and buildings

I frown as people scramble

    out of buildings

    only to be snuffed out

        like the street lights

As my city disappears

    I feel my hair move

    as a breeze grows strength

In seconds the wind howls

    I swear I can hear

    the violent sound

        of teeth gnashing

The wind tears tears from my eyes

    my ears ringing

    as I bow my head

I set my feet and shoulders

    against the approaching darkness

    now at the base of the hill

        I am afraid

My chest hurts as my heart

    tries to break free

    to find a safer place

 The darkness rushes

    over me, I kneel

    It sounds like a pack of wolves

        but I feel no teeth

The world around me becomes silent

    I wait a moment

    to open my eyes

Reluctantly, I lift my lids

    I see nothing

    until my eyes adjust

        to the darkness

I can see the faintest outlines

    of the world around me

    shoes, notebook and pen

 

My first thought is 

    what will tomorrow 

    be like now 

        I hopelessly sigh

 

On instinct, I find my 

    notebook, pen and thoughts

    I start to write

While the ink saturates the paper

    my pen becomes a light

    I look up to see

        other small flames

The darkness is being punctured

    in the city below

    stark light against the stillness

 

For a moment  

    I think I see

    the constellation

        Ursa Minor

I stand, watching the single flames

    start to migrate

    to the center of town

The lights move as one

    becomes two

    becomes three

        becomes together

The darkness dissolves

    in ragged patches 

    from the light of talent

With my pen and paper in hand

    I start down the hill

    to join the others

        removing this blanket of darkness