Silence Before Dawn

Sometimes fear grips me
like a jealous lover
seeking his revenge.
Fear can whisper
in my resistant ear
the darkest of secrets,
scratching lies
like a knife on glass.
My heart pounds
and my pulse thunders
as I long for conversation
or the strength of security.
All the while,
it is the silence of uncertainty
piercing through the chaos
like a persistent stranger
whose eyes are constantly fixed
on my every gesture,
every shake of my head
and every push for a smile.
He laughs at my pain
as my tears fall
from my head to my knees,
and he slips away
when the Light surrounds me,
leaving me be for now.

9-10-92