Candle of the Mind by Samantha Nobles ’22
Persevere by Angelina Scalice ’23
“Make this choice!” “No, this!” they cry; I can hardly think ahead.
“Take this path!” “Go here instead!” I try and try, but still, I dread
Moving forward. It’s so hard, with all this shouting, misdirection;
This confusion, such delusion, chronic fear of great rejection;
And as the panic settles in, waves of pain invade my head.
Am I here? Is this real? What does this hazy veil conceal,
For I feel crazed, strange and dazed, as if in a dream; unreal.
There is darkness, and now light; do my eyes betray my sight?
Do they too betray my mind, convincing me that nothing’s right?
My thoughts are raving, full of fright, and they now begin to reel.
Helpless, hopeless, great despair; what’s this I see standing there?
A door? A friend? A hope? An end? Will this help me; will it dare?
It extends a hand so warmly, smiles kindly, and then tells me:
“You are not alone, you see. I am here, and so we’ll be
On this journey, not forever, but for the time we are, together.”
It finally disappears, the fear that crept in, stayed, and reared
Its ghastly head of mere illusion, and in its place then appeared
An ally on this winding road, to help me through and through; and so
I know you are by my side, you will not leave me alone.
Together we will fight and challenge, overcome the dark and feared,
Now the battle’s fought and won, and in my heart, I truly know
Together we have persevered.