Obscure Vision Poem by Neil Graham Marsden

Through mists of doubt and veils of blackness

I peered into arenas never built.

Once there despite all fear of contradiction,

set pedestals before your blinding light.

Your presence and my world complete.



I drew back in wonder that you could be so wise.

Then in my times of darkness

I would dream each move you made,

until this child of yours could duplicate

your rage at least as well as you.



I shared miseries you had and made them mine.

Craving your existence as you were faced with death,

I cried pleas of help to gods I had not known.

I did not succumb until my pain

at least matched that of yours.



I listened in childish awe to your grand counsel

and believed your brutal, crushing hands

and feet were fuelled by stranger love.

Such loyalty fed by ignorance and heart.

I believed that all God’s children faired the same.



I felt safe that should I fall, your loving arms

would catch and cradle me just once.

Such life I lived in brainwashed adoration,

only to discover decades later

that you were never, ever there at all.