This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
Vocation
by a staff worker
It seems like worlds ago
and centuries,
and it seems like yesterday—
yesterday, when I walked in darkness.
The darkness of city streets,
Concrete beneath my feet,
Concrete around my heart.
Darkness inside
met darkness outside me.
Everlasting darkness
that the brightest neon lights
and the screams of music
and dying people could not pierce.
The darkness of questions
And the twisting routes to answers
That were no answers at all.
Darkness.
Darkness walled by concrete,
Darkness that smothered human light,
Darkness that crushed human love.
Darkness everywhere.
Darkness forever.
But no.
Hovering somewhere . . . where? . . .
was a tiny light.
Where? I searched.
I tried to hold it.
It was gone.
I searched for it . . . longed for it.
Where was it?
It was gone.
Forever?
Yes, forever.
But no.
There it was again. Flickering. Fragile.
Was it real?
Maybe, just maybe,
darkness wasn’t everywhere.
Maybe, just maybe,
the little light was real.
Then the light was gone,
And all was darkness again.
One day the light came back.
And it grew and danced
and filled the darkness.
And the light leapt
and entered my heart.
And I danced with the light,
and in the light.
And the darkness was gone.
The flames drew me and said:
Come . . . Come . . . Come.
I pulled back.
But, but . . .
I don’t know how … I don’t know . . .
I cannot . . .
You are so strange . . .
And the light just burned and danced
and laughed and said:
Come.
And I came.
