Grotto Story Poem by Lonnie Hicks

I am found
in the Story Grotto
with millions of others
grappling with a tale
to tell;

holding it
in the dull light
hoping for a clue
to it,
wrestling it to the grotto ground
trying to understand it.

I and it
merge too much;
I am much more than my Story
yet
now
it is all I have.

I draw blinds over parts of it
can't bear to see aspects of it;
sad sad visions there.

There are lighter moments, of course,
but not enough to light the grotto.

I grapple with my Story
good parts and bad;
trying wring from it
emotion juice
wring it all out,
neuter it
so I can leave
its bloodless hulk
on the grotto floor
and go back
out into
the
sunlight.

I am not my Story alone
and should not let my life
leave me alone
with it
in
the
dark
dark
grotto.