SOUNDS IN THE SHADOWS

SOUNDS IN THE SHADOWS

Walking down the path, but pausing to inspect a distracting noise coming from somewhere in the darkness, some distance to the side, I heard a low, guttural growl.  But, somehow it also sounded softly feminine and alluring.

                In that moment, when I should have run, I hesitated, hearing, it seemed, my name called.  I spun around to locate the voice.  But, at the same time, my back stung from the razor cuts across my shoulder.  It was on me, snapping and snarling!   In confusion, I turned to see a beautiful smile; and, I impulsively kissed her, only to have my face gnawed off!  Nearly blind, I stumbled, with help from somewhere, back onto the path.  The fiend retreated into the darkness, snarling and pacing menacingly.

                I rolled over, startled awake, in a cold sweat.  Nightmare?  Insight?  Vision?  Warning?  I sometimes hear the howls, eerie and disconcerting, when the night train passes behind my place, its whistle awakening the pack.  But, I believe the other fiends are MORE real.  And, they are not warm-blooded.  I sometimes feel their cold breath.  And it is foul.

                The sounds in the shadows make me edgy.  But, who pulled me back onto the path?!  That question keeps me going. 

WITHIN FAILURE

Within failure can be found success.

Within the ugliest beast can be found beauty.

Even down within the depths of the abyss can be found escape.

For, even within the darkness can be found light!

Surely, within deception can be found truth.

And, within defeat is found victory.

Within ignorance can be knowledge.

And, within the grave can be found life.

Yes, even in rebellion can be found submission.

And in confusion, can be found meaning.

Out in the wilderness there can be found the way.

Within murkiness can be found clarity.

And, in dimness, there can be found brilliance.

Within despair can be found hope.

Even in hatred, can be found love.

Often, within doubt, there is faith.

And, in the prodigal, there is penitence.

Within waywardness is stability.

In the pilgrim can be found home.

Within the coward, there is bravery.

Even in the pervert there is decency.

Within the traitor, there can be found honor.

And, within the arrogant can be found humility.

So marred and scarred; so disfigured and destroyed.

Yet, deep within, a spark flickers.

A memory, a shadow remains, though hidden and denied.

He said the last shall be first, and also said the least shall be the greatest!

“Father, forgive us, for we do not know …”

Even I was once a little boy, bright-eyed and boundless.