So Dark is the Night

So dark is the night, not a moon shadow seen
with a stillness that deafens the breath of life
enshrouding all hope, muting its screams
until even apathy gives way to strife

then the darkness shudders; a silent rage
held back by reins many decades old
battles the confines of its cage
struggling for possession of her soul

in sleep the night mares run wild and free
'midst the thunder of hoof beats and shrieks of pain
the pleas for peace they do not heed
across mountains of grief, through valleys of shame

awake, come the torments, a descent into hell
abandoned, unloved, the cycle repeats again
the torture, the despair, nobody can quell
what hope to go on, what more to be gained?

turmoil and chaos mask what it all means
raping what strength there is left to fight
the visage of self no more to be seen
so still is the breath, so dark is the night.

Copyright ©1995 by Sheyna D. Galyan