tara caribou
poetry & short story author – artist & nature lover
Hidden Dark Soul
Follow me down. Down the dark tunnel leading to the hidden parts of my soul. The stone stairs are clean from debris, but slightly worn from the constant use. I’m not used to bringing someone with me, no, but as of late I’ve been too uncomfortable to travel alone. You don’t need to hold my hand or stand too close, just please, carry the torch and whatever you do, for the love of God, don’t drop it. We’ll need it to find our way back out of here.
I learned a long time ago not to hang out too long. I can’t reside down here, alone with my dark thoughts. They will drag me deeper and deeper still. I then become worthless to anyone but my own dark fears and fantasies, dreams turned to realities.
It’s here I imagine the worst. It’s here my fears take over. It’s here I contemplate ending my own life again. Over there, see, those shelves hold memories. I can pull them down, relive them again and again. The shame returns. The humiliation, there. The mistake that follows me to this day. Self-hatred and loathing usually hold my trembling hands while I visit them time and again.
And look, there on the wall a special place just for dark fantasies. A book filled with empty pages waiting to be written. Surely this good thing will end poorly: let me write down the worst. He can’t possibly be interested in me: let me pen in ulterior motives. All the worst things that could happen, I can make them reality. All I need is this quill and ink, blank pages, and my imagination.
Right here is the mirror broken to a thousand pieces yet still somehow it holds together. Within it I can gaze at my reflection though not perfectly but still it’s how I see myself so it must be real, right? Each crack came about with each hurtful word spoken to me. I would never measure up. *crack* I’d never fit in. *pop* I didn’t look like her. *snap* I wasn’t smart enough. *crrrack* There I stand, broken for all to see.
Down this corridor is darker still. The flame of the torch barely holds back the inky blackness. It stretches its icy fingers into my heart and squeezes. After seeing myself in the mirror, it’s hard not to traverse this narrow hall. At the dead end the floor disappears and down I would fall. And all those ways of ending my life rise before my eyes. The pills, the drinking and driving, the attempted overdose, the blades oh the lovely blades and flowing blood. A siren’s call to a bruised and cut up heart. To wings that have been clipped and clipped again. They promise relief from the pain. Yet, having you here with me, I borrow the strength to turn away from this place.
You know what? That’s enough for today. I want to go back to the Light. Will you, could you maybe, hold my hand, after all?
tara caribou | ©2017
20 Comments on “Hidden Dark Soul”
tara caribou 
Sad and wanting
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Thank you Phil
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Loved this. Deep and dark, just like the subject matter.
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Thank you, I’m glad you liked it.
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i would hold your hand hun!
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T…. of every person I know… you might just be the one to understand best.
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*hugs you*
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Right back to you, my friend.
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This is so profound… You know, there are people out there who are not afraid to travel to that place with you. Sometimes we look at our scars and think “unworthy”, but others see art out of them. There’s art in you. The fact that you allow yourself to go deep within shows courage and strength. This is beautiful… 🙂
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Thank you for this insight. I have two friends who will walk the depths with me, should I ask. I so appreciate that because for many many years… well, never if I’m honest, I didn’t have people like this in my life. I am blessed. I don’t know about courage and strength but I do know it’s something I must do. I cannot allow the darkness to completely take me over again. I just can’t. Thank you for your comment, it really helps believe it or not.
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Having that support system in our lives is always a huge comfort. Not to mention, having loyal people who understand us can give us that motivation to go to those painful places. If you had my eyes, you would see that strength and courage I see in you. The fact that you said you cannot let the darkness take over again shows you are flexing your muscles and taking a stand. I’m really glad I can help you in some way. I don’t know your story, but from what I have read, you are resilient, girl. 🙂
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Thank you. You’re too kind, truly.
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You’re very welcome. 😊
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Very different from the usual erotica, but this is so so so beautiful. Have missed reading your stuff. Been away traveling. This is really very beautiful 🙂
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Thanks Count. I was thinking about you just the other day wondering where you’d gone again 🙂
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I was thinking about you too!!! I tried my hand at erotica and thought of you. I seem to run out of ideas every time 😦 I wrote something new, do check it out
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Deeply, darkly beautiful
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Thanks so much!
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A great post to teach us how to walk instead of how to give advice to the hurting. Carry the torch and walk along side. Very good!
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Thank you so much.
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