The Land of Grief

I’ve sailed a day and more across the sea—
The sea that carried me to a strange land.
And here it was they promised me
Many a fair day and more in a place so grand,
That none would believe had they not seen
The verdant leaf that perishes not from the tree.
Or the budding, fruiting pastures green.
Or the gardens stretching from mount to sea.
The ardent sun sheds light by day,
And never tires or abandons post,
But holds that darkened shroud at bay,
And casts its light from vale to coast.
Here it was they promised me,
That time held no power.
That death would flee.
That no beast should devour.

In a place where peace should abound
Why have I found what should not be found?
For I have tasted bitterness—
Death, destruction, bareness.
I have seen the tumult of the sea.
And the felling of many a tree.
I have felt a darkness keen,
Leaping up to swallow clean
Any hope of life so fair,
Replaced by a burden no one could bear.
In lieu of pastures, a gaping cavern.
In lieu of healing, a festering burn.
A wound so grievous
Death should swallow up the weakness.

‘Twas in this strange, far-off land,
That many a promise went unkept.
And darkness like a plague had swept.
But here it was I took a stand.
I have now seen the darkness and the light.
I stood at the edge of the pit of death,
And stared long and hard at that great depth,
And found that day will follow night.
And time will sweep away the blight.

Note for the reader: This poem was an experiment in writing for one of my characters.