I flicked off the light
and blew out the candles,
because I can only write to you
from the dark.
Sunlight’s too bright
and stark filament fires
burn away the meaning.
Even these new compact LED’s
just wash out white,
evaporating the words
that sit in shadows.
I play in shades of grey
and these clinical blue hues
imbued by institutional fixtures
dilute and corrupt each meaning,
like well meaning friends
vying to buy your politics.
Best to keep it clean.
Best to do the deed in darkness.
It is better to have one honest word
to speak aloud in absence,
than to read a diatribe of untruths
in crowded daylight.
I have always treasured the honesty of night.
It is the place where fear dwells.
The monster’s lair.
The soul taker.
And be he as he may;
twisted, ferocious and terrible,
he is honest.
Rare is it to find honest company these days
and even though
the light must come
and I will slay the creature;
it will be with an honest word
forged in darkness.
HG – 2017
