Beware the Black Dog

The black dog started barking, but I took it out to the garden and tried to let him loose. He's a funny ancient creature who always finds his way somehow into peoples hearts and souls, currently feeding on war crimes, grief and sadness across the world. Can be found on mexican borders, calais, gaza, the ghosts of hillsborough and Grenfell, does not discriminate between the rich and poor, a sense of helplessness that is impossible to ignore. Anywhere that he senses pain, feeding and masticating whether under sunshine or rain. Feeding on our universal sadness his teeth sinking deeply in, devouring any joy within. It's so easy to surrender allow our souls to be gnawed, despite trying so hard to keep the savage hound at bay, has killed my brothers and sisters, suffocated so many beating hearts, Some of us to ease the pain will try to drink ourselves to death, give up our defences and offer no resistance, allow us to be taken by his darkness on days when we are unable to fight back. In unison we can resist him, spreading love and peace, as we walk among trees, following soothing breeze, following our dreams, releasing friendship flowers that always blossom, the companianship of kindness, sharing thoughts, another’s care, catching sunbeams and rainbows of possibility. Because he fears all these things and all the solidarity and love that we share, as we expose the injustices of the world with deep empathy, knowing kindness is something that he runs from, something this demon finds difficult to overcome, But be very careful, beware of the Black Dog, because he will always be there, hiding and lurking somewhere.Very cunning, always outwitting, draining energy, altering mindscapes,frightening and debilitating, creating abyss, Collectively we don't have to feed this hungry beast of burden, even if he's calling out your name, let our love and daily battle collectively overcome the pain he delivers. To destroy the black dog, do not feed him, refuse his hungry bite, in name of survival with all energy that you can muster, you got to keep trying to slay his affliction, casting this energiser of sadness far into the wilderness, out of sight, and follow paths of light, but be ever be cautious, because he's never far away. I thought i'd destroyed the fiend once and on a warm morning danced with joy, but heard his fearsome howl once again. It's an endless fight, of endureness, perhaps one day we will win and bury him forever. Maybe then this sense of hopelessness and despair will dissapear.