Darkened Mind

How often do I hide in thick layers of parading masks-- afraid to reveal the hardened ego which denies a vanity ruled by a sordid past - those matriarchal flaws, cracks from violence, and lesions of snuffed anger marked by wired illusions over time's unhealed grievances. I smile with resistance existing through fragile acquaintances to escape light's awakening that could lead me out of life's pretenses. So I hover drearily on bloody nights and run to the woods in search of sages, even wise thieves , who could give me refuge from this soul going imaginary- but my darkened mind lies, asking "pride, how treacherous or precious are you?" Russell Sivey Contest: In The Dark Created 14.09.2017