Hard nights
yield to the dull light
building in the western sky.
Slowly the fear
found in the darkness fades.
The morning awakes,
ready to live in full,
but always with a sliver of darkness
under the skin.
Scratch and itch as you’d like.
It will not be dislodged.
Through noonday sun,
a flicker of shadow
creeps into the corner of your eye.
Those poisoned barbs of night
tainting the blood.
If not found and extracted
this infection will yield
only madness.
Pluck it out.
Let the day be free
of the terrors of the dark.
And let the night
only be for rest,
and dreams.
May hard nights
transition smoothly
into good days.
DJR – 2022
