When You Walk in the Darkness with Me

It has been an incredibly hard year for our family. In many ways, it has been harder than 2014. For certain reasons, we cannot talk about it yet.

However, there have been a close circle that have been walking beside us through it. This poem is for them as part of our thank you.

And just in case you wanted to know the finer poetic details, the poem features 3 sets of AB rhymes. Line 7 pentrates the rhyme scheme to shift it to a tercet. 10 total lines to symbolize completeness when community surrounds you. The parallel structure of both stanzas amplifies this.

The light has fallen

The valley tightly closes in

Pain’s pathways are trodden

Chaos creates the tailspin

What I have known has been forgotten

As I am carried away by the raucous din

Yet—with prayers extended—

You rise above the cacophony

Make the shadows start to flee

When you step into the darkness with me.

The gleam has faded

The vortex incessantly churns

Affliction leaves me barricaded

Turmoil tirelessly turns

What I perceived has been desecrated

As despair’s touch does me burn

Yet—with heart extended—

You rise above the melee

Make the shadows start to flee

When you walk in the darkness with me.