Darkness Found

by one lost in light

                                                                                           photograph by photogramme

In the morning, I could see clearly the bronze house in front. Oh, such charm. I know where I am going. The long flat road, it is long but at least the path is clear. I can make it. I will make it. No respite. To no end do I move to fulfill my dream.

After a long walk, I made it. Moving closer, I saw my name etched on the bronze front door. Through the window I saw pleasant furnishings and bountiful of food. I stopped but did not enter, for up ahead beyond the valley, I see a house of silver.

At noon, I could see even more clearly the silver house in front. Oh, such wondrous beauty. I  know where I am, where I am going. The footpath is winding but it is still fairly simple to maneuver. I can make it. I WILL make it. Do not tarry. To no end do I move to fulfill the longing and wanting.

After traversing the difficult broken roads, I made it. Moving closer, I saw my name again etched on the silver door. Through the window, I saw an extravagant space decorated with fineries and a great feast set out on the dining table. I stopped again but did not enter, for up ahead in between two great mountains, I see a house of gold.

At mid afternoon, I could see the golden house in front. Oh, such magnificence. The sun emanating the warm glow of gold. I know where I am, whence I came, where I am going. The thick maze of trees and dangerous mountain paths may prove perilous. But I can make it. I MUST make it. Be vigilant. To no end do I move to fulfill the obsession and addiction.

After struggling through the dense forest and steep rocky roads, I made it. Moving closer, I see my name again on the door. I stopped. For to my surprise, it was not a house of gold but a house of straw. I looked through the window and found a straw bed, a loaf of bread and pale of water. The afternoon sun tricked me, casting its beautiful glow directly behind the straw house.

At sunset, it became increasingly difficult to see. I look behind and see the the bronze and silver houses dissolve into nothingness in the sinking light. I know whence I came, where I am, and I felt regret. I did not know where I was going. I could not make it. I had failed. In defeat, I entered the straw house.

At night, I could not see anything. The darkest unwillingness conceivable thrust upon me. There was no moonlight and even the stars shun their blinking stares from me. Sitting on my hard straw bed, I ate my meager dinner and what little water was left, I saved. My spirits plunged into great depths that I did not even know possible, for the great wanting of more have left me with even less.

In my greatest moment of despair, I looked out from the straw window and there came a realization. All around there was. All there IS. Darkness. Silence. Everything else was gone. Everything. But there was no panic. No fear. No anger. There was acceptance. Nothing more to be thought. Nothing more to feel. The warmth and safeness enclosed wholly upon me. In that darkness, there was peace.

At dawn, I stirred with a plain mind. I went outside and could see, clearer than I ever saw. There were great trees and bushes of wild fruit, planes of grain behind the straw house and a mountain stream. The house of bronze and house of silver lay in the low grounds and valley. But I no longer found need or want for them. I knew whence I came, and there was nowhere I wanted to go. I was where I wanted to be. At the straw house, I found something of infinitely greater value than bronze, silver and gold combined. I found happiness.