When Darkness Falls

“When darkness falls, beauty is lit from within.”

― Johnathan Jena

__________________________________________

Early morning 6am

I step into the day

into a darkness that has not yet lifted

the wind races through the trees

warm and laden with

rain to come

snow lies depleted on the ground

a remnant

tired and dirty

the road shifts beneath my step

clay turned to mud

cloying and ugly

it is not a morning to make my heart sing

yet it is not a morning my heart, my soul cannot sing

for the deepest joy

the greatest beauty

comes not from without

not from a world which is sometimes

perhaps often

ugly and challenging

not from external forces which can

crush and depress

but from that deep place

where we communion with the sacred

and find love and resilience

and what we need

to smile

perchance

to laugh

and maybe even

dance