A Rivers Light in a Barren Tunnel... Elegies in Effigy

By Silas M. Johnson

Every hero's journey traverses separation, initiation, and return. Through these experiences, we each compose our song. Our search for duality of spirit and purpose of heart can render us triumphant or heartbroken--the classic lines of "good" and "evil" ever tightly drawn.

But what of the villain's tale? Who opens the door unto worlds of grey where the fallen despair? And in the depths of that darkness, can a scarce glint of light be seen? Through poetry and composition, A Rivers Light in a Barren Tunnel..." chronicles Johnson's journey through the perdition of imprisonment, his search for hope, and, ultimately, the renewing power of love.

Invoking startling imagery and metaphor, his writing offers a peek into the abyss and a portrait of the human condition in all of its complexities.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781636926476

Book preview

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A Rivers Light in a Barren Tunnel... Elegies in Effigy

Silas M. Johnson

Copyright © 2021 Silas M. Johnson

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63692-646-9 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63692-647-6 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

A River’s Light in a Barren Tunnel

Alone…

Always

Anna Bell Peaks

Ascension

Away

Awestruck

Beautiful

Bloom of a Sunflower

Captivated

Ecstasy

Fly (Ariel Part 2)

Free

Gallivant

Good Love

Heart Valve…Supernova Part 2

In Stone

Pant

Render

Ruminate

Solstice

Splendid

Subtle

Sunlight

Supernova

The Sum of All Things

Truth

Vanity

Wish List

You Are

You

All I Do

Bleak

Brimstone Cinders

Centered

Cold Front

Day after Saint Valentine

Desperately Seeking Satan

Dissidence with Distance

Fallen

Float

Flutter

Forever…the Sadness

God’s Last Effigy

Halloween

Hell’s Run

I Don’t (The Friendship Clause)

Kingdom of the Dead

Lament

Lost

’Nuff Said

Obliterate

Ode to Loneliness

Pivot

Requiem…Sigh

Royalty

Snooze

Somewhere in Between

Sub

The Dark

The End of Everything

The Fall

The Funeral

The Remedy

The Void

Twilight

Withered Roses

Foreword

So here we are. I’m honored that you’ve chosen to spend some time with me. The fact that you’re reading this is nothing short of a minor miracle. The following poetry and songbook are a collection of writings that span over a decade.

They represent an anthology of my thoughts, feelings, desires, angst, dreams, and, most importantly, my hope. The power of expression through writing has always captivated me. I can remember journaling as an eight-year-old boy and losing myself in the wonder of words. The literary world served as an escape from an abusive mother’s boyfriend and her complicit indifference. Writing tens of thousands of standard sentences, for the most arbitrary infractions, helped me hone my penmanship.

Decades later, at forty-two, I’ve discovered that life is funny that way—that, if we are strong enough, our pain can be transformed into our power. I’ve opted to exercise that power with this offering. Perhaps my greatest aspiration for this work is that it inspires you to find your own voice. The human experience is a wondrous revelation, and I truly believe that our individual stories are what make life worth living.

The truth of our journey and who we are can never be co-opted. When I was young, I thought that there were two kinds of people: good people, who sometimes did bad things, and bad people, who most times did awful things. Ultimately, I’ve found that people are far more nuanced and that the truth lies somewhere in between.

Throughout the black hole of nineteen years of imprisonment, I’ve had the fortune (and misfortune) of exploring the inner depths of my own desperation and depravity. I’ve traversed rivers of regret, sadness, and loneliness en route to a higher understanding of my pathology and consciousness.

Along the way, I’ve lied, robbed, and hurt people—even killed a man. I can’t begin to describe the impossible paradox of beginning the process of forgiveness for the unforgivable. And yet, somehow, we must all find a way to forgive ourselves. I’d like to think that what lies within is an affirmative step on the long road back. It most certainly was cathartic.

My expressions are an eclectic blend (as you’ll undoubtedly witness) and have been influenced by the likes of Stephen King to George Benson (thanks, Dad). Some of the pieces are snapshots