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.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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La France Avatar
February 5, 2020 at 1:15 PM
Sam, congratulations on your win in the contest with this great write _Constance
Kauffman Avatar
February 5, 2020 at 10:34 PM
Thank you for your congratulations Constance. I am so appreciative of your encouragement.
Ibeh Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 4:34 PM
Splendid write, Sam:-) You have a knack for mesmerizing readers!
Kauffman Avatar
February 4, 2020 at 10:22 PM
Hi Edward, Thank you for your feedback. I always hope that what I write will reach and grab the reader! I so appreciate your time to read and respond!
Dietrich Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 3:17 PM
a very powerful pen, sam. And what an awesome finish to this gem!!
Kauffman Avatar
February 2, 2020 at 9:51 PM
Thank you Andrea. I just couldn't leave the poem in the cave - without hope!
Adams Avatar
February 1, 2020 at 1:47 PM
wow... this is powerful Sam...i like the way you formatted this one, it pulls the reader along nicely...wonderful write! hugs
Kauffman Avatar
February 2, 2020 at 9:50 PM
Thank you Sandra! This poem is very special to me and the format just seemed to make sense. So glad it contributed to making the poem work. Thank you Sandra!
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