as a child I used to wonder
why the night was feared
wasn't it the time the stars came out?
and the time for the cracked moon to reign?
my elders told me
that wallets are dearer to men
than the throats of their own brothers,
and knives their best friends.
I couldn't reason why
one had to live a life within boundaries
and not venture out in exploration,
at times like these.
I couldn't understand why
man couldn't live without hurting others
and not give in to material lust
in his short stay here.
my elders told me
that if desire was the root of evil
then impatience was the root of desire
which is born in faithless hearts.
and the night is the time for the vampires to come out.
They ambush all those who dare to walk by
and cage them in dungeons, torture them
then bury them in graves unmarked.
And suck the life out of all the innocence
then call it guilty through stained lips,
wagging their tongues in false worship
of gods weaker than a coward's heart
but it won't be long before the day breaks
and real warriors walk out in processions
with no weapon but unshaken faith
and chase the vampires to their coffins
lock them and throw them away
and make the nights safe for us
to dream and hope
for better days.
