{"id":445,"date":"2025-09-12T09:34:39","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T14:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=445"},"modified":"2025-09-12T09:34:39","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T14:34:39","slug":"edge-of-darkness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/12\/edge-of-darkness\/","title":{"rendered":"Edge of Darkness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><em>Days are dark but hope is never gone.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A light in the darkness cannot be quenched.<br \/>\nA star in the sky burns forever entrenched.<br \/>\nWhere there is light, the night holds no sway.<br \/>\nAnd though darkness may come, to dawn it gives way.<\/p>\n<p>A candle held high can be snuffed by a breeze,<br \/>\nBut the light still burns on where everyone sees.<br \/>\nNo wind can extinguish the soul made of fire<br \/>\nBut a heart filled with anguish, is ash on the pyre.<\/p>\n<p>Swords must be sharpened, and arrows made store.<br \/>\nBattle calls harken and the soul readies for war.<br \/>\nNo joy in the fighting, though a fierceness and rage<br \/>\nA cagey old badger too cunning to cage.<\/p>\n<p>Grim necessity calls them no glorious foe,<br \/>\nSmall petty evils that kill blow by blow.<br \/>\nYet evil once small may grow large as fate<br \/>\nAnd so our blades we will sharpen<br \/>\nto take the head of the snake.<\/p>\n<p>But still in the darkness that light is held high.<br \/>\nFor it will will live, for it we may die.<br \/>\nThat hope in the grimness that dawn will still come<br \/>\nAnd we ready for battle and pray there is none.<\/p>\n<p><em>Edge of Darkness<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2025 all rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Days are dark but hope is never gone. A light in the darkness cannot be quenched. A star in the sky burns forever entrenched. Where there is light, the night holds no sway. And though darkness may come, to dawn it gives way. A candle held high can be snuffed by a breeze, But the&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/12\/edge-of-darkness\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Edge of Darkness<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[26,22,12,23,20,11],"class_list":["post-445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-duty","tag-grim","tag-hope","tag-light","tag-mood","tag-poetry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-7b","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":308,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/12\/02\/path-in-the-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":0},"title":"Path in the Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"December 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Something uplifting to start your week. A step taken in darkness Towards a steady, burning flame. Feet quest ever forward Testing the ground again. Each step somehow finds purchase And carries the traveler on Though some steps hang in the balance And the road narrows, but never gone. The light,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Path-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Path-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Path-in-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":501,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/01\/decisions\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":1},"title":"Decisions","author":"Heather","date":"December 1, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A poem from my Dwarven Throne world. I hope you enjoy it. Decisions in the dawn before the sun can see That echo in the fabric of all reality. Backwards now and forwards, weaving on through time Though they have never given a reason or a rhyme. Decisions in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Decisions.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Decisions.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Decisions.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":497,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/11\/24\/song-against-the-darkness\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":2},"title":"Song Against the Darkness","author":"Heather","date":"November 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A bit of hope to hold you through the rest of the day. Lift up your head, drive out fear. Lift up your voice for all to hear. Let no terror in the night Hold your soul chained up tight. Hold to joy, make hope a shield Laughter is our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Song-Against-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Song-Against-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Song-Against-the-Darkness.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":516,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/19\/wardens-song\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":3},"title":"Warden&#8217;s Song","author":"Heather","date":"December 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This is set to a jauntier tune in my head than perhaps it should be. In any event I hope you enjoy this little monster hunting song. The foe is waiting for us and we shall track him down Before he brings his terrors to another simple town. Ride we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Wardens-Song.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":415,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/07\/28\/knight-of-the-fairy-wood\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":4},"title":"Knight of the Fairy Wood","author":"Heather","date":"July 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The darkness always comes, but the light always rises to defeat it no matter how long the night between. Fairies dance within the wood Guarding right and growing good, And when their wicked fall away The fairies mourn from dusk to day. In that mourning in the night The fallen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Knight-of-the-Fairy-Wood.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":259,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/09\/09\/the-light-shall-not-fail\/","url_meta":{"origin":445,"position":5},"title":"The Light Shall Not Fail","author":"Heather","date":"September 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Something for you because hope is scarce at times, but it is not lost. Candles ever flicker in the grimly glowing gloom A flame flares then gutters, and another shares its doom. Yet somewhere in the darkness another spark prevails. Reminding all its brothers: The light shall not fail. Though\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wyrdbard_A_sea_of_candles_under_a_starless_sky_f5b704e6-3a7c-44a6-9f93-56f3be73e0e3.png?fit=1024%2C1024&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wyrdbard_A_sea_of_candles_under_a_starless_sky_f5b704e6-3a7c-44a6-9f93-56f3be73e0e3.png?fit=1024%2C1024&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wyrdbard_A_sea_of_candles_under_a_starless_sky_f5b704e6-3a7c-44a6-9f93-56f3be73e0e3.png?fit=1024%2C1024&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/wyrdbard_A_sea_of_candles_under_a_starless_sky_f5b704e6-3a7c-44a6-9f93-56f3be73e0e3.png?fit=1024%2C1024&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=445"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":447,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/445\/revisions\/447"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}