ABSENCE OF LIGHT and NONE WOULD MOURN

Poetry by: Gary Wenkle Smith, TLC 2000

ABSENCE OF LIGHT

I have seen dark places
and people
who still dwell
in that world
with misery and suffering.
I have been there.
I shall not return.

There is still an absence of light
around some people.
Their greatest fear
is that they cannot
stand up—
and some times,
we must be in their pain.

The impotence
of not being able
to share the joy
can be crushing—
like the depths of the sea.
It can be so compelling,
and powerful.

It can be difficult.
But it is so simple.
Would that I could,
I would reach into him
and show him that
which he will not see.
But he must first open his eyes.



NONE WOULD MOURN

When the apostles returned
with the finale’
and the voice
of reason
rang out
over the protests
of the few,
the many
were heard.
As the guillotine dropped,
and his life
ebbed away—
gone forever—
there was
no grieving
at the loss.
And were she
to say
she was not true
none would mourn still.
He was the damned.