Footsteps of Midnight

Footsteps of Midnight Sealed in a cave No beginning - no end, No dawn – no dusk, No sunrise – no sunset,- Only the constant echoing footsteps of midnight, Pursued – haunted - Pushing the soul closer to the fine edge Of madness swirling in a yawning abyss; Icy terror rises up in streams of numbing vapors With silent fingers ready to entrap Any soul wandering too near this Silent death, Rumbling with satisfaction At yet another soul held captive - Deliciously drawing away All life Till eyes only stare into nothingness Never finding satisfaction, Never enough To fill the rumbling hunger; The soul staggers, Bound up in hopeless whispers, Unable to scream, Unable to stand beneath the weight Of narrowing passages, Crushing air From struggling lungs Pulling in winter’s breath, Freezing the soul from the inside out, And even tears that once beckoned Soothing relief Look away Despairing; Hands reach out - one last frantic search - Falling into hopelessness To hear wild demons sneering – Victors standing over vanquished – Laughing Until the echoes shred the very marrow of the soul; No hope! No hope for life! Their screaming bounces off the walls; Fingers tremble, Stretching out For any comfort, any warmth, Discovering what eyes search To believe In annunciation – A single ray of light, Shattering the blackness, Crushing the demons And their laughter While gentle arms caress the soul Now reconciled, Binding wounds Where wounds bleed no more; Night bound eyes see again The precious face of love.