A Plaint In The Night

A dolorous man sits alone

In a tenebrous oubliette,

Staring at his shadow

Cast by the lambency

From above.

Unable to recall why he was

Here, he sat, watching this

Figure of himself dance in the

Fading refulgence.

“I can hardly see you anymore,”

He confabulates to his silhouette;

“You were always there, helping

Me through it all, and now this

Darkness encroaches upon us.”

“You can leave anytime you want”

Came the susurrant reply of the 

Man’s profile; “just climb out, and 

Follow me;” the gloom then entrenches

Upon him, and his stygian ally

Vanished into the black.

He starts to reach for the exit, 

But the dark is heavy,

So heavy; he falls back to the

Earthen floor, smothered by the

Night; the small voice reverberates

In his head: “follow me”.

He began to frantically clamber

For the egress, yearning for

Manumission;

Scrambling for the portico 

Once more, he could feel the

Darkness, ferreting for him;

“Follow me,” came the murmur

Again, and the gloaming

Pulled ever harder;

However, he overcame

The murk, and circumvented

To the sanctuary above,

Where he rejoined his

Shadow.