A silver key has locked me inside my own world, where I have

Lost myself inside the shadows of my dreams-

As would a thundercloud, my tears are like the rain that falls-

The sky would clear and as the sun would re-emerge,

Perhaps there is some levity inside this place of my reverie-

Having lost my soul and my spirit following close behind as a

Fledgling bird may have flown by within a moments notice,

I hear the ticking of a clock rhythmically keeping time to

The motion of my steps slowly walking away from

The confusion, fear, and destitution of veracity-

I am none but a silhouette slipping through a crack in the door

Leading to this place of my flight of the imagination-

I have lost myself along the way I once believed was paved for me alone,

Though only lead me towards madness

And to a world so vast, frightening and unfamiliar-

Running backward down that very same path until I arrived at

That mystifying door that was open for me alone,

That door only I could enter with that magical silver key,

I could hear the songs of angels singing tunes of love, peace and faith-

Stepping with caution over the threshold of that door,

As I closed it gently but firmly behind me-

Here inside this place where there are no hills and trees grow

With leaves of silver and a creek runs through in all of its crystalline clarity-

The sun here is just bright enough to guide me down a

Path of hope- and the people in this place are not threatening and

Are true to their word, innocuous, caring and promising that

Here tears are golden and only shed for joy-

No room for sadness, disappointment and fear in this miraculous land,

This magnificent place where I have been reborn-

I own a silver key and a special paintbrush with which I have painted

A rainbow across a sky of cerulean blue- along with phantasmal seraphs

With unyielding strength I have pushed all clouds away.

I listen to the joyous tunes of cherubs’ singing- I can see the reflection of

Peace flowers dancing in a cool breeze before the sapphire-hued pond-

My spirit and soul I once believed lost has been found here-

I have locked the door between myself and what so many have deemed as reality

With that phantasmal silver key and thrown it to the wind.

So many have believed that painted rainbows, crystalline creeks and ponds of sapphire-

Songs of angels and trees bearing leaves of silver

Are none but figments of my imagination- I have in a sense lost myself

Inside a world of my delusions but having abandoned fear, sadness and dismay-

This new found peace of mind has become my new reality –as that silver key is

Blowing about in the wind somewhere, some place a long distance upward in the sky-

I know I am safe here inside the shadows of my dreams- knowing that

All clouds have disappeared, my tears

Which have fallen with the rain of past days, are forever gone…

Claudia Krizay