Someone
has to stare back from the dark.
Someone
has to volunteer
to hold the keys.
Someone
has to open the door and look in
now and then to check on
what’s in there.
Someone
has to describe it for us
although the nature
of what’s within is, allegedly,
well known.
Someone
has to be there
in case someone else
stumbles into the dark
while the door is open
and can’t find their way out.
Someone
has to go to war
when now and then someone else
calls the dark terrible
and tries to pretend it’s not worthy
of consideration and suggests
we seal the door to it permanently.
Someone
has to become what’s within
and the keeper of what’s within
and the guide to what’s within
and the fortress of what’s within
and now and then the caretaker of those within
when someone else needs to stay there
and make a forever home in the dark.