White Light

Darkness where even silhouettes have no place
no sounds except the stars
your footsteps keep in time with your heart
and your pockets provide some warmth.
A whisper behind you makes you turn your head -
nothing there but you,
you carry on walking with fear as your friend.
The whisper is closer now
almost at your shoulder
it calls your name like a snake’s hiss
and you turn around to see
blinding light assaulting your eyes
disorientating and sudden
your feet lose step with your heart
there’s silence all around again
no light was ever there.
Your back is flat and cold now
the floor had broken your fall
you clamber to your feet
with no idea where you are.
Footsteps die as they run away
still no light to help you see,
you feel your pockets and your bag’s unlocked
empty sacks where your possessions once were.
Profanities and confusion spin around your head
no up, down or right way to go,
do you follow and fight or go home and forget?
Can you sleep when it’s burned in your mind;
that flash that killed your soul?
a silhouette of curls and shining white teeth
behind the lips that have curved in to a grin.
Forget what happened, nothing you can do
relax your heart and calm your lungs
it’s only one night of your life.