A million stars lie at my feet
with red and oranges flickering bright
mists of darkness flow by them
with the scent of burning wood
here and there I can see
bundles of rags that so still lie
and with fear from them I look
turning my eyes from what I would not see
on both sides the burnt out shells
up thrust bones of blackness
of the hopes and of dreams
stolen in the black of night
distant cries can be heard
like the baying of hunting hounds
trembling trying to quicken dragging feet
fleeing what behind me is
wants of one against another turned
both were right and both were wrong
excepting not the other one
seeking in anger to destroy
cool wind brushes against my face
chilling the drops that there lie
slowly stiffens my wet clothes
the dark stains I would deny
seeking that which lies ahead
a dim glow of golden light
lying on the horizon far
a soft beacon that calls to me
I would leave the fears behind
seek the joys denied to me
shining hope of what might be
in the dawning of the new day
I really applaud this
I really applaud this poem---the use of imagery here precisely and adroitly supports the emotion and drives it forward to the conclusion. It is a very powerful reading experience. The nineteenth line seems to falter, and I do not fully understand what it means, "horizon far" might sound better as "far horizon." But these are small criticisms compared to the massive energy in this poem. I think what I like the most about it is how it just kind of reached out and grabbed me and propelled me forward, without a pause or a break (except those two points I mentioned above) until the momentum arrives and relaxes in the last two lines. This is a really fine poem, and I will be re-reading it again. Thank you for posting it.
Starwardized [fka Starward]