The Darkest Heart

What barren lands are these
the black sea that stretches shore to shore
the eternal bridge of creaking, croaking wood
that spans across the rippling murmurs
the inky, blackest tears of despair

Scraggly weeds that struggle
through the hard, hard soil
cracking through, thriving
amidst the eating, churning maggots

Tendrils of deep green ivy
that swirls around the forsaken walls
how it weeps into the mightiest heart
the strongest shield
the stoutest badge of courage

Dark as it has become, it's always been
ink dripping in the corners
shadows of night that flit from way to where
and stretches of sand that stir the land

Oh, what barren lands are these!
that swirl and tumble in the soul
corrupted, and filthy, who would have thought?
the darkest heart of them all
is a child