Darker Passage

Then the men into A Darker Passage rush, shouting,
“This is our Place of Light
In us may fall no Shadow!”
Then—into Man the darkness
Rushes—Shouting
“This is our Place of Passage!”
Dig down further into
chambers of imagery.

Why do none ask before Shadow?
Both speak gently to the
Soothsayer
In tones that pass for whispers—
But to one who stays
And listens—after
Some session is deaf.

He may pass by in manlike
Movement
But the Spirit and the Darkness
Don’t understand
Manhood–or Man
Only silence
Either of peace or stupor
After writing so long he is the scholar—
A cramped Professor
Prepare another lesson will you?
Till forever Bent
The World and words soon become a
Case—
Either Doctors or
Darkness
Prevail.