Erik (Dreams of Darkness and Light)

In the dark she clings to me,

taking comfort in the fleshless touch of an icy hand

a whispered caress to stroke her hair with death's bony chill

this fragile frame,

iron clad and rigid,

unbreakable

(a mask is a mask is a mask)

shelters her

keeps the night at bay –

how poetic to hide away from darkness

wrapped in tortured emptiness devoid of hopes of the sun

In the dark she clings to me.

The night is my world (my life, my soul)

and in this realm I reign supreme

The embrace of the darkness is cold,

chill as death,

as life,

and hot,

flames flickering black to scorch my blistered soul with dreams

of darkness

and of light.

My soul is empty, shattered.

There is only the music, my true mistress,

the only one who will never forsake me –

for whom I must forsake all others,

devoting mind, body, life to

unending worship at her unfeeling radiant shrine.

My mistress is cold in her regard,

her deathless voice my only beauty,

granting her angel the strength to move shattered limbs,

shattered heart,

raising my eyes to adore the heavens

I despise

empty and endless as my dreams.

In the dark she clings to me,

clutching tight to my wasted arm

with a pure and innocent passion,

trusting me to guide her

who does not believe in salvation,

trusting me to lead her

who cannot find his way from the limitless depths,

to bring her safely through the unending night.

AMH

13 March 2005