My friend Frank sent me this poem, and I loved it. I read it to Helen, and she loved it. My friends – Maria, Trace, Carmen – think it is dark, but I don’t quite agree. I think there is darkness, but that it speaks about strength more than darkness, the strength we sometimes have to gather in ourselves to fight off pain or loss or betrayal. I actually experienced it as fighting off the dark side that sometimes calls to us, and clinging to our better nature.
  I feel I experienced this poem in some ways, over this long winter.
  I am new to poetry, and very much enjoying it.

Spellbound

The night is darkening around me,
The wild winds coldly blow,
But a tyrant spell has bound me,
And I cannot, cannot go.

The giant trees are bending,
The bar boughs weighed with snow,
And the storm is fast descending,
And yet I cannot go.

Clouds beyond clouds above me,
Wastes beyond wastes below;
But nothing drear can move me;
I will not, cannot go.

Clouds beyond clouds above me,
Wastes beyond wastes below;
But nothing drear can move me;
I will not, cannot go.

Emily Bronte