hell

i thought darkness

was the canvas

for the twinkle of stars

the firefly in summer

the snow fall in winter

the broken heart

grief in loss

the pain that does not end

but i now know

darkness is the question

even after why

the unexplainable capacity for evil

the pleasure in cruelty

the delight in horror

the unregulated conscience

the sickness of the human soul

i replay the savagery to no end

the fear in innocent faces

and i cannot comprehend

how we wait and watch

and i thought the darkness

was the quiet of empty streets

lights in windows

good nights

a whispered i love you

a sheltering peace

but no

there is a darkness

that strangles the heart

and drives in trucks

with flags and guns

smothered in hate

they are coming for us

we must turn on the light

so everyone can see

the antithesis of all

everything we claim to believe

we must live

we must love

we must deliver peace

and love is the stars

the snow fall

a whispered i love you

a sheltering peace

in a human darkness

a vile horror of disbelief

• patty brown
• - art “the starry night” vincent Van Gogh