Civilization Poem by Barry Middleton

One step beyond the wilderness,
at the edge of a dark forest,
dwells the human soul.

The forest calls to us of danger,
of beasts that roam the night,
of evil in the heart of man.

The fear is deep that hides within us,
the archetype within our DNA
is like a cold blooded reptile.

It keeps the wilderness at bay.
It depends on every one of us
to conquer fear and pride and greed.

Accepting life and death,
with flowers laid upon the grave,
is all that we may do with fear.

Today I take one step into the light.
Tomorrow does not exist.
Follow me into the moment.

Then we will vanquish every evil.
There is no fear that we cannot defeat;
the faithful sun reveals the way.