In the Dark Hours of the Night- Beverly Koepplin

In the very darkest hours of the night, 

the stars shine the brightest – 

they are our beacon lights 

so we can find our way to morning.

In the dark hours of the night, 

the bridge between dusk and dawn folds up,

and we are left stranded in the cold and relentless night 

with no way out.

In the dark hours of the night, 

the mountain lion prowls in the canyons.

Only the smartest of her prey 

look for her tawny, glowing eyes in the blackness.

In the dark hours of the night, 

life is precarious for those without safe haven.

Shrieks heard in the night echo 

between the hard-lived hours until first light

In the dark hours of the night, 

small benign creatures becomes monsters

who rise up and nibble on our faces 

and ceaselessly howl in our ears.

In the dark hours of the night, 

we seek sweet comfort in our beds

only to find none, 

and we wander the rooms of our home in a futile search.

In the dark hours of the night, 

the wishes of our day go astray

and nightmares bully their way in, 

uninvited and unwanted.

In the dark hours of the night, 

we often lose our minds

to the demons of those dark dreams 

who carves holes in our hope.

In the dark hours of the night, 

our repentant prayers go unanswered,

and the sins of our daylight hours 

visit us again to feast on our regrets.

In the dark hours of the night, 

where there should be peace

there are instead warriors armed in anger 

who battle over our sleeping souls.

In the hours of the night, 

we should respect the masters of the dark,

for we may believe the morning light 

will mark the end of our travails.

But when the long hours of night slowly give way to day, 

pray for avenging angels

for the devils of the dark do not die; 

they only hide and wait for another night.

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