The beast crouches in the shadows
where it has hidden safely for years,
grown old and hideous, as all unwanted things will.
Patiently, it waits for a moment
when even the light areas fade.
It waits to emerge and torment.
The beast is strongest when hope is weak.
Volatile and heartless, spitting poison,
a nightmarish creature borne of fear, hatred, ignorance.
It will not die without a fight,
a fight to the death,
its or mine.
I venture cautiously into the blackness.
For the first time, I am looking for it,
to shake it screaming from its dank pit
and fight for my life,
nothing less.
The more deeply I intrude into its shadowy world,
the more unbearable the stench becomes,
the rot of years of stagnation.
I stop before the first dark corner.
The old, familiar fear enters my heart,
but only for a moment, for I hate that fear
as much as I hate the beast itself.
The beast is there . . . huddled in the darkness,
thirsty for my blood.
But I have already lost too much.
I can no longer afford the luxury of fear.
I set down my jaw and gather my resolve
until I could run through walls.
The beast is so near now, I can hear its breathing,
pained and rattling.
Finally, I have a chance to rip out this cancer once and for all
and reclaim my life.
The loathing in my heart mounts. Rising, strengthening.
I am ready.
I widen my stance, raise my fists
and prepare for the battle of my life.
But as my eyes adjust completely to the darkness,
I see the eyes of the beast staring into mine, terrified.
"These are the eyes of my enemy?" I think,
"The one who plagued me for so many nights
and always at my weakest moments?
This is what I was so afraid of?"
Years of anguish rise up together and quicken in my heart.
I lunge, clutching at the black air.
I take hold of its ravaged skin and pull it into the light.
Blinded, the beast cringes.
A deafening screech echoes through the endless labyrinth.
I am ready to destroy it, to tear it limb from limb,
whatever it takes to finally be free.
But as I raise my fist to strike,
the monstrosity becomes dead weight in my hand,
falls in a heap into the dust,
shudders violently and dies,
slain by the light itself.
The light of courage.
The misshapen corpse dissolves, and its stench along with it.
A fresh breeze blows powerfully through the dark corner it once lived in,
scattering the ashes,
removing every trace of its pitiful existence.
Light continues to flood in until I am bathed in gold.
I feel that this is not a new condition
but a return to a natural one.
Yes, the feeling here now is unmistakable.
It is peace.
The kind of peace I have dreamt about for years.
For the first time, I see that the only sure path to freedom
is unyielding determination and a fierce purpose.
Fortune always favors the bold.
But there are other beasts, lurking in other dark corners,
and nowhere are there more hiding places than in the heart.
So I will not rest.
I will move on to the next corner,
and the next, and the next.
I will never stop, ever,
until everywhere,
there is light.
Author notes
I think of this as a survivor's poem because if we don't conquer the beasts in our own spirits, we can never be happy or at peace with ourselves. The beasts devour happiness, and since the body assumes the spirit's posture, an unhealthy spirit leads to an unhealthy body and, ultimately, death.
I have used this story as mental imagery during meditation to extricate things from my heart or mind that I didn't want anymore. Painful memories, negative personality traits, addictions, fears, doubts, etc. I have found it very helpful. Give it a shot - think of whatever it is you don't want anymore as a beast hiding inside yourself, seizing upon the slightest weakness to attack you.
Go looking for it and knock its block off!
All the best,
Mark
Written December 20th, 2003
In a list
A contest entry
- Contest for Survivors by .
400 points, ended December 22, 2003, 26 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 20 of 20
-
Excellent
Maybe this is the beast I was writing about in 'slipping' although I only read this poem just now. Next time it reaches to grab me, I'll kick him in the face!! Easier said than done though. With some beasts, you just don't know what ammo you need to kill them, or the steps you need to take to kill them is too frightening in itself. The imagery in this poem is excellent and the title just grabs you, much like the beasts themselves. *shudder* -
H-O-L-Y C-O-W!!!!!!! this was so aweomse. i love it!! and you have just given me an idea for another poem. thanks. yiou are an awesome poet. great job!!!!! man u r definitely going on my favorites. it is weird though how similar some of our stuff has been. if i hadn't seen ur pic i would begin to wonder if you were my doppleganger....
-
this is great mark...my personal monster has been fought in this way and you are right...taken one step or corner at a time monsters can be beaten...your poem for me tells a truth in that most monsters are more scary and formidable in your imagination than they are in reality...when you actually meet them face to face their terror can crumble away...great stuff as usual!!...hugs...leanne xxx
-
Hey... I love this, as usual. I actually also really liked your reply to Sharon... that's so true. Your insight inspires me. This is indeed awe-some. Haha.
-
Thanks Mari,
That's a beautiful thing to say. I wish the same for you.
Your friend,
Mark -
Congratulations with your trophy! It is an awesome poem!
I hope the light be always shinning for you and the beast be forever defeated!
Mari
-
Dear Sharon,
Thank you very much for the bronze trophy in your survivor's contest. I have read all of the entries and am truly humbled that you chose mine alongside so many other fine works. I just hope my entry helps a few people, as their examples of courage have strengthened my own. All of the stories of survival against such incredible odds are as inspiring as they are heart-wrenching and I am honored to be associated with such amazing people.
I remember when I was younger, when something terrible happened, I would get angry and think "all this pain better mean something" as if God or the universe owed me happiness. As I got older and (hopefully) wiser, I realized that painful experiences don't have to "mean" anything. Someone can have one horrible experience after another forever and die in a rat-infested hovel. The only meaning the horrors we survive have is the meaning we give them. We need to MAKE them matter somehow by helping others who have experienced something similar, by writing a poem and giving it to the world, or by having a contest like you did and giving people a chance to tell their story and to help others. In so doing, of course, they help themselves heal a little more. For another great lesson I've learned in this life, perhaps the greatest, is that one is not unhappy from a lack of love but from a lack of loving.
Thank you for having this contest. I have read your responses to others and I must say you have one of the biggest, kindest hearts I have ever come across.
Richest blessings,
Mark
Edited on Dec 22, 8:13 p.m. because 'typo'. -
AMAZING, ANOTHER MUST READ!!
Hi Mark,
Well, I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said above, I'm afraid we're all going to give you a big head with so much praise!! Hehe. I'm with D, be right back, have to go kick some beast booty. I didn't train martial arts for nothing! Oops, there were too many to slay in one session.
But, seriously, that was truly amazing. For a long time I believed that the best way to deal with such beasts was to pretend they didn't exist. As you know, that simply doesn't work! It really is amazing how wretched and pathetically sad a fear or negative belief, or whatever, is when brought to the light. Like you said, it simply crumples and disappears if it is false. Very well done! And I love the idea of the golden light flooding the places where the beasts were, heralding the return to a natural state rather than a created or new state - very cool concept indeed.
~~Kerry~~ -
Muse was exactly right, and you have been using this as such, it appears.. this works very well in guided imagery. Its something that a facilitator can use, and also something one can use on their own. I love this type of therapeutic work, I've used it with children as well as veterans at the VA, and it can apply to just about anything that invades our life, whether it be trauma (as with the vets) or illness - it can fill any need. You have penned a very effective scenario, one that so many could use themselves. This definitely fits the bill for this contest in my opinion. You always do such wonderful work, so glad you are here at allpoetry. You have a nice view of things.
~ becky
-
Beasts????!!!!! I'm going inside and kick some arse! How dare they acquire a domain within me, my soul or anything else. I've retrieved my sword...... going inside..... and I'll be right back...... hack, yikes!, bam.... spirt...... slash........ smack!!!.......
Whew, that wasn't too bad.
lol
Nice write Mark.... you're on the money with this one. It's good to read these things over from time to time... and keep the skills sharp to defend ourselves, from ourselves....... besides others.
many blessings this holiday season,
Don -
Hi Amanda,
I'm so glad you found something in this one for yourself. I think we all have beasts inside, even if only a persistent bad memory we don't want to carry around anymore. Who says there are no more dragons to slay?
Thanks again. I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas and a great 2004!
Mark -
Thanks! I'm glad we're friends. Can't have enough of those! I'm proud that you count me as one of yours.
Mark -
I love read your poems. And you have a very beautiful handwriting. Iam so amazed with the way you write... And I believe I have found a new friend!!! from imagine27
-
Wow!!!!!!
Wow! I am at a loss for words to explain how wonderful this poem is. I think every person on this planet should read this poem. It's true that some of the things you find most fearful, most painful, most horrible,etc. are extremely weak when exposed to the light. Thank you for writing a truly powerful, uplifting, incouraging poem. This was truly an eye opener for me.
~Amanda~ -
Dear Sharon,
Thank you so much for letting me know that this struck a chord with you. It is so gratifying to know that you found inspiration in this. That's what it's all about as far as I'm concerned. We're all in this together, all pilgrims on the same road, and we should help each other.
It's true that I have survived much, as we all have, but I also think it's helpful to maintain a proper perspective. If I don't, I run the risk of spinning off into space in some narcissistic trance. I try to remind myself as often as possible that I am more fortunate than 90% of the human race. Most of humanity is carrying water in buckets from polluted rivers to dirt floor shacks and wondering how they're going to feed their children. So many have survived and are surviving much more than I have.
Then again, it's all relative, isn't it? A teenage girl who gets a giant zit on her nose on prom night is just as devastated as someone who wakes up in the hospital with their legs missing.
Still, we all must work diligently with what we have and do our best with the hands we have been dealt because by improving ourselves and confronting our own demons, we also make our friends and loved ones happier because happiness is infectious. We also make the world a better place because victorious, happy people are much nicer to be around and usually contribute much more. As the old saying goes, "He who complains the most usually contributes the least."
I always worry about the poet when I read a poem that describes a personal problem but doesn't seek a solution because complaining alone solves nothing. It only gives the beast more power. As Aldous Huxley put it, "Rolling in the muck is not the best way to get clean."
Well, I better zip it now or I'll write a longer response than the poem I posted. haha Your comment obviously inspired me. Thanks again for your kindness and encouragement.
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Mark -
This wondrous work of prose is a drum major for freedom. I am in tears after reading this help-mate of an entry. I am nearly at a loss for words, and that is an oddity for me. You have given so much light to the dark areas of life for so many with the metaphorical rendering. I pray that everyone who enters this contest takes time to read this entry. It is spellbinding. You took me there, insdie myself to face those inner beasts that haunt me. And yes, the heart is where they take up residency. Resentment and guilt, shame, hurt pain, they are all demons (beasts) that hold us bound. You have managed through this write to help me see a light that I thought I saw, now I know it's true brillance. YOU are a SURVIVOR. Thank you for sharing this exquisite meditation with us all. Be blessed and stay in the light. I too will seek to bring all the "dark corners" of my sprit to the light. Thank you so for entering this contest.
Sharon
-
Hi Mike,
Always nice to hear from you. I agree - a fear is like a playground bully. It appears strongest when unchallenged, but attacked fiercely on its own terms, it quickly cowers, revealing its true weakness.
Glad you liked this one. Merry Christmas!
Mark -
Hey Deb,
Wow, that is strange! Let me know how it goes if you decide to use this in a guided imagery exercise. I think affirmations are great but the mind remembers images better than words and they seem to stay planted longer.
Thanks for the encouragement, as always. I appreciate it.
Aloha,
Mark -
You hit the mark, Mark. More times than not we find that the things we fear most are pathetic and weak when exposed to light. Their only strength is our perception and fear of them....take that away and they cease to exist.
An excellent lesson here..... -
excellent
I am amazed after reading your author's comments, because - as I read this very powerful piece, I kept thinking "this would be great as a base for some guided imagery work"! How in tune is that!!!
Anyway, this was a wonderful and uplifting piece of writing, kiddo. I will be printing this out in hard copy....I never am given a tool without an opportunity for its application soon offered. Have learned to listen and watch....and make hard copies. Thanks for this wonderful reaffirmation of the indomitability of the determined human spirit.
Adding your comment:
1 - 20 of 20
