The Hanging Darkness

the darkness and silence
a promise for things to change
not knowing
do you understand how it feels?
no, he said no.
and again confirmed, no.

i could see you in me
a resemblance of what used to be
i could dive in deeper and see
maybe catch the rare possibilities?

they died, stabbed by knives
or shot by guns
killed by fire
murdered by bomb
they died in gas chambers

the hope has gone
you can no longer hear the songs

what about those people?
he asked
those people under the trees
those people running across the fields
living and laughing
challenging and winning

those people continued to be there
an opposite of what being laid bare
a slave to colors and joy
not once they turned back
to see what is empty

as I continued walking
towards the hanging darkness
a hole
emptiness
i embraced the feelings
i hugged the soul
i asked again
do you understand now?
maybe he said maybe