The Dawning Grace Poem by Karpop Riba

From shadowed depths, six years did I reside,
An ocean's heart, my bed, where sleep denied.
A fortress built of walls, a self-made keep,
On hardened stone, my silent form would sleep.

What life was this, by thousand sorrows bound?
A numbing chill where feeling was not found.
A web of scars, a broken weary skin,
A fractured soul where light could not break in.

A life I came to scorn,
Its bitter seeds within the mind were born.
And in that shift, my hand began to write,
Of endless dark, a world devoid of light.

A weight of guilt,
The fear I'd cling to shadows in my heart.
No easy solace, no soft, repenting word,
But silent vow,

Two years confined within a castle's hold,
With kindred spirits, stories to unfold.
A restless charge,
Believing this, my only, fated hell.

Then, dawn approached, a glimpse of world anew,
The sun's bright gaze, a terror shining through.
To stand alone, a burden I must own,
From life's harsh grip, a captive overthrown.

A rising panic, fear's insistent cry!
Without these walls, how could I learn to fly?
A whispered lie, 'Let overdose provide, '
The sought-for peace, where I could safely hide.

*A fleeting choice, a chilling, swift descent, *

Moments stretched to eras, time misspent.
A wave of shame, a thousand piercing pains,
'Seek help! ' I cried, to break these binding chains.

Then saviours came, a beacon in the night,
To intensive care, they bore me to the light.
With healing hands, and time to re-assess,
A heavy guilt, a burden to confess.

I lived, and so, apologies must bloom,
To those I wounded, chasing back the gloom.
They met my fault with pardon, love's embrace,
A tender strength, a universal grace.

A year has turned, no darkness dared to claim,
A fragile triumph, whispered like a name.
Though shadows linger, thoughts of sweet release,
Life's quiet beauty brings a gentle peace.

To fight I choose, where life and death contend,
Though wicked whispers try to make me bend.
I'll strive for wholeness, let the healing start,
And mend the fragments of a hopeful heart.

Beyond the castle, comfort I perceive,
The sun's warm kiss, a truth I now believe.
Though alien still, this life without the grey,
Upon this shore, I'll rest, and learn to stay.