Poem for Shabba- The Torchbearer
I waken in the darkness
Frightened and alone
The ground on which I’m lying
Is made of roughened stone
I kneel up in the blackness
And the rocks they cut my knees
I crawl a little forward
Filled with dread and deep unease
I slowly stand and feel the walls
The cave is damp and cold
I walk, my feet are bound with chains
To slavery I’m sold
This is a place where sunlight was
Forgotten long ago
There is no faith or hope or love
No light of moon on snow
I cry aloud expecting that
My cry will not be heard
In this unearthly tunnel
Devoid of beast or bird
When suddenly I hear a sound
An echo or a call?
I call again and far away
I hear some footsteps fall.
A light appears so far ahead
I scarce can see the flame
Then in the gloomy distance
Someone calls out my name
The light it fast approaches
And the torchbearer comes near
And lights the gloomy cavern
With a flickering flame so dear
I heard you call , the bearer says
I too must walk this road
I too must bear the darkness
And carry this harsh load
We will not see the sun again
We will not see the day
But let me cut those chains my dear
We both shall walk this way
Now here’s a branch down on the path
Take it in your hand
Let me light it from my torch
And we shall cross this land
And as the cave is dark
And stony underneath
One foot before the other, dear
And don’t forget to breathe
Once in a while we’ll stop and check
For others left behind
Crawling in the darkness
Sad and dull of mind
And we’ll pick them up and light their flames
As I have done for you
We’ll take their arms and pull them up
And give them friendship too
And hope and pray that and the end
That it will all come right
And at the very last of days
We walk into the light.
chipmonkey