Not Too Dark

Not Too Dark

By Anaïs Real

808

Dark, but not too dark. Cool, dappled, dusty Afternoon light drifting Through the glowing green ceiling far above our heads. Ragged pillars hold the ceiling up, up Their Interlocking, waving branches suspended over air. It is dark in here. Dark, but not too dark. Just outside Sunlight sets the grass ablaze with bright colors that sparkle And spotted with shade from The guardians high above Waving their many hands To drive away the monsters As we shelter in the dark, but it’s not too dark. A soft burble From the small stream that feeds the pure pools of clean, clear water that turn to liquid starlight When the Sun goes to sleep.

A soft sigh, a creak from the old, old trees and the wise, wise wind Singing together, in harmony with the sleepy birds Above. The dusty light turns Golden, Orange, Red, Blue As the Sun says farewell to the sky And the Moon and her bright children offer a hello And change the grove to a dark and magical place. It’s dark, yes, but not scary. The darkness is a welcome blanket Enveloping us in a bubble of safety and contentment We gaze up at the patchy sky as the trees, too, Close their tired eyes The distant Stars wink Sending whispers of love and comfort It’s night, and dark It is always dark in the Grove of Dappled Light. It’s a safe dark. It is dark, but not too dark, because of the soft glow within us all.