On Carrying the Rubbish Age Seven

To know the dark
Is to have confidence
In controlling
The wilder excesses of your imagination.

To know the dark
Is to be prepared to step forward
Into an uncertain future
With a confidence born of
Complete
Ignorance

And thus
To find yourself back, many years
Remembering suddenly
Standing
On
The
cold
stone
steps
leading
to
the
cellar
And meanwhile the push-in button
Which lights the single bulb
Has pushed out
And you are once again
In
Total
Darkness
BUT
WAIT
You’ve done this walk before
You’ve carried the household rubbish
down
down
Down
to the great bins beneath the pavement.
Slowly, Carefully
You take each blacked-out step
Hip close to the wall.
Downstairs
At last
You reach the other push button
Light, thank God!
Now, do your job, perform your task and get back up the stairs before………….