Tortured Light

(When first shown the darkness, I realized then
I had known it forever.  For its chord vibrated
within me like the strings of a violin, and I wept
with it.  In its all-wavering vast devour of my
fragile, melancholy brilliance, so I found myself for always
a beacon of Tortured Light.) ~ Susan Joyner-Stumpf


This light wavers, bends
emanates from fading spectrums
inside grieving, lifeless winds.

It spoke once, a voice of dance and songs,
brightness left to diminishing wince
now where silence belongs.

It felt once, a passion ocean deep,
left to embers burning, whirling
into cries that cannot weep.

It saw once, the rays of subtle
paradise, now blinded by the
ebony folds that hold it in its vice.

It knew its brilliance once,
captured rainbows for a while,
this tortured light God wanted back
so Heaven could see its smile.