On The Lower Level Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

On the lower level,
Squinting eyes sour...
Behind disguising masks.
Worn by those refusing to remove them.
A task they have not mastered.
Even though the light dims!
Any that was kept once,
And stored within.

On the lower level,
A feeding of darkness
Continues to flourish.
A nourishment encouraged fails,
To purge them.
Weaknesses begun...
Left many to seige a seething,
As natural as the breathing process is done.

They pray to be released,
But cease to eliminate the increasing anger.
They creep upon themselves like beasts.
Leaving hearts mangled to dangle like bait...
For awaiting vultures.
Enslaved by their own rusting culture.
Distributed like mulch,
To advance the growth of weeds!

Estranged from the guidance of angels and 'spirits'.
A depth is reflected but no one goes near it.
A fear is suspected and it's rejected quick.
The fumes of addiction has settled in too thick!
They are sick...
And many seem to enjoy dwelling upon this,
As it sits.
No one wants it to leave...
They are pleased with it!
If it hinted to go and quit...
Their own throats they would split!

Enlightenment is attacked.
Strapped to lies and innuendo!
And closing the window to a truth held back,
Ready to be exposed!
But it has been frozen and concealed in traps.
Bolted unconsciously to pain and sorrow.

Whatever light is left...
Suddenly fades and goes out!
Screams and shouts are heard.
And those who grew patient to listen,
Were not deterred by the disturbance...
Blurted to blur!

They knew from 'within'...
'Something' came to awaken them,
From the shallowness of ignorance,
They could not let begin!
As they were lifted from the lower level...
Deciding to shovel their way,
Into a light that did not betray them!

Finding in time...
Those of like minds,
Welcoming to share light!
In abundance that excited.
A brightness not expressed...
And much supressed,
On the lower level!
Where temptations and distress,
Are mixed by those who pass their blessings!
Confined to concrete limitations expressed.
In the hopes to deliver themselves from bleeding!