The Darkness

There once was a boy
who crawled in a cave
searching for a great treasure.

He hoped for a prize
of silver and diamonds;
wealth beyond any man's measure.

Standing prepared,
quite healthy and able,
he descended beyond the preceded.

But, in the end,
despite preparation,
his greed nearly had him defeated.

For far down below
he fell and he lost
the light which had led him thus safely.

There in the dark,
mind drifting away,
he swore he heard voices singing:

"All the day we fall and stray
hoping for the light of day.
Tender hands and softened knees,
reminders of our dread disease
which curses still our lives and dreams,
and leads us far from our sole needs."