Pride, sorrow, guilt

 

 Light spoke into the darkness
Light shined the path for the passengers
Darkness was content
For light brought a warmth that was alien to her
Among the travellers on the path lit
Was a lonesome man by himself
Within the crowds, during the march
You could find him contemplating his past
The present presented him with a few choices
He was never a risk taker, though
Balancing his pride, guilt and sorrow
He didn't believe
He should've been here
The world around him fell apart year after year
The darkness hid him for long
But Light came along
He was never shackled, not truly
His arms were simply tied down by the weight
Survivors' guilt, a man's pride
Grieving death, the sorrow of life
Depression spoke to him
It said "You and I are forever entwined"
Guilt never said a word
He just held onto his arms
Sorrow always wept
He hugged her as he was falling apart
Pride would tell him he's stronger than all of this
That he has no need for sadness
Sloth would ask
"Can't we sleep today?
The world collapsed, and I'm afraid
The darkness is being breached
Light, I can see
So can we sleep in today?"
He'd often contemplate
Pride would tell him it's okay
That his faults are not mistakes
That he's just engineered and built this way
Wrath with the world was somehow calm
He'd speak his words and never yell
"None of them deserve for us to go on
But despite it all, we will."
Fear and anxiety were twins
They held their hands together
They'd wrap their arms around him
And whisper their words
"It's not safe, you should hide
We know not where it comes from, this light
It's not safe, you should push the people away
We know not whether they truly care."
Shame would always tower over him
Claiming she knows where he'll be in the end
Alone in a ditch with no friends
Joy stared from a distance
Unable to really approach
But Light helped Joy break free
In Light's hand, Contentedness stands
No longer lost
Pride still spoke his words
Telling him he's on top of the world
That nothing could hurt him more
Till he was hurt more
And Pride spoke again
"I am your only friend."
Sorrow would keep on weeping
But Sorrow stopped eventually
Sorrow saw that Joy was there
To keep her company
Guilt remained
Made two new friends
For Guilt was on good terms
With Grief and Shame
They held hands together
Formed a circle around him
One he's yet to break
He knows not if he ever will
He doesn't feel like he should
He lives, yes
But they should, too
He knows not which of his friends speak truth
Pride still insists on isolating him
Sorrow, Guilt, and Shame
Still believe he should be dead
Joy and Contentedness remained close by
And introduced him to someone new
Happiness was an odd fellow
But she was cute
He took to her every once in a while
She'd show up when he'd have a fine time
She wouldn't speak much
But her presence was nice
Then he realized
She was Light
And Darkness took a new form
That circle that formed itself around him
Turned into a storm
Guilt, Shame, Sorrow, and Regret were all there
A chaotic mess of dangerous shapes
But he'll brave it
And he won't be alone
For all his faults, Pride was truly always there
And even if Pride can be dangerous
He'll help him nonetheless
So to the storm he goes
Believing he's got what it takes
Happiness, Contentedness and Joy
Pushing him and Pride ahead
The storm awaits
So sail on, my dear man
Face your storm like he will, too
And know that if you listen to any of your friends too much
They'll form their own storms, too
For excess from anything is dangerous
Let not avarice control you
Face the storm and be the bold
Defeat the new and conquer the old
Find a place for yourself in life
And carve it there
You, too, are a traveller in Darkness
So let Light shine upon the snares