My Soul to Keep

Shadows of darkness edging closer in my mind,

Desperate pleas upon the pages teardrops and pain entwine.

Twists and turns, forward, reverse, haunting visions forever roam,

Bloodstained hands, silent screams, erase this destination, send me home.

This nightmare had not been foretold, I was not prepared,

I can feel her emotional haunting, take it back I shall not share.

Darkness creeps further, demons, closer, closer, cannot lie still,

Maniacal laughter and I shiver from my soul’s deathly chill.

I watch her, or is it me? Why? Why me? Haunting visions, nightmarish dreams,

Oh, let me go. Please release me, withdraw the demons give me souls release.

I can feel intense heat. I can see her on the bed, restless, tossing, turning so cold,

I scream. They come for her, soul gatherers, no, no, leave her be. Screams I can no longer hold.

Her, no, there is no her. It is me. The shadows of the darkness know my name,

I try to escape, I am captured by an unknown force, I struggle so wild and untamed.

They call me, “Come to me. Come, drown yourself in your wretched tears.

I have taken your joy, take your peace I have known you for many, many years.”

Deeper, come deeper into the darkness, Suffer the earth, let me pull you down

No peace, only misery, ah yes misery and tears, I love those depressing sounds.

“Nooooo, I scream. Enough. Wake me. I can not let the darkness take control.

I need the light. I need to reach out absorb the light. I scream, “GIVE ME BACK MY SOUL.”

God lifted me up, pulled me into the light, took away the darkness and misery,

Oh merciful Jesus, Son of God, held me tight, dried my tears, and set my soul free.

The demons of darkness no longer hold me captive, no longer capture my sleep,

They haunt me no more, they no longer invade my mind, God has my soul to keep.

© Cynthia Clark