Poem: "Green Eyes"
Jan. 26th, 2014 03:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the January 21, 2014 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from my partner Doug. It also fills the "unrequited love / pining" square in my 1-2-14 card for the ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trope_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It belongs to the series Walking the Beat.
"Green Eyes"
The first time it happened,
Dale and Kelly were stocking up
on groceries after a winter storm.
Dale came back to their cart
with her hands full of soup cans
and found Kelly chatting away
with a lovely young woman,
their fingers flying and faces shining.
The stranger had smooth red-gold hair
fastened into two long braids, and
arresting green eyes in a heart-shaped face
so heavily marked with freckles
that she reminded Dale of an appaloosa.
Dale! Come meet Chrysta, signed Kelly.
She just moved into the neighborhood this month.
Chrysta went to the Beverly School for the Deaf
like I did, and some of my same teachers are still there.
Chrysta drifted behind Kelly
as Dale approached them,
looking waifish and a little wary.
Dale put the soup into the cart.
Hello, she signed politely.
Welcome to the neighborhood.
Chrysta gave her a shy smile then.
You sign? she asked.
Kelly taught me, Dale said
with a practiced flick of her fingers.
Kelly and Chrysta exchanged email addresses,
then everyone went on with their shopping.
Dale couldn't help but notice the longing glance
that Chrysta cast after Kelly.
Well, it was hard sometimes,
being Deaf among Hearing people.
It got lonely.
Dale tried not to think about
being lesbian among straight people.
The next time it happened,
Dale and Kelly were at
Café Bartlett Square.
Kelly had gone to get them a table
while Dale placed their orders.
Dale juggled an armload of
Kelly's turkey sandwich and her own Cubano,
plus the hot chocolate and Ceylon tea,
cane held awkwardly in the crook of her elbow
as she headed toward the table.
Before Dale could get there,
Chrysta bounded up on her long slim legs
with a double espresso steaming in her hand,
green eyes glinting with energy.
Kelly brightened visibly and began telling her
about something or other the local artists had planned.
Without really thinking,
Dale paused in the aisle,
watching the two women together,
both of them Deaf and beautiful and mobile.
The tea was too hot in its paper cup
and Dale was squeezing it perhaps a bit too hard
as it leaked scalding droplets over the rim,
and her bad knee was beginning to ache.
Then Kelly turned in her chair
to cast a worried look around the room.
She gave an urgent wave to Dale,
who finally shook herself back into motion.
What in the world were you waiting for?
Kelly signed. You shouldn't be standing around
without any support like that.
Dale put the food on the table and replied,
I didn't want to interrupt.
You can't interrupt, you live with me,
Kelly signed. Chrysta doesn't mind.
Dale said nothing,
losing herself in her sandwich.
Kelly picked up her turkey melt in one hand
and carried on conversation with the other.
Evidently she and Chrysta had no trouble
understanding the abbreviated signs
that sometimes confused Dale,
who could only follow about half
of what they were saying now.
Dale caught the sign for "microphone"
and something that might have been "poetry"
signed up the arm holding the turkey melt.
Finally Kelly set down her sandwich
and turned to Dale. There's an open mike
coming up in two weeks, Kelly signed.
Chrysta and I want to perform some ASL poetry.
You'll come with me, won't you?
Of course, Dale replied,
because she wanted to make Kelly happy
and signed poetry was beautiful,
even if these days Dale didn't always
have the energy to appreciate going out.
So it went, with Dale and Kelly
crossing paths with Chrysta
every few days -- on the sidewalks,
in stores, in restaurants, wherever they went.
Chrysta was trying to learn her new neighborhood,
Dale realized, and surely that was something
they ought to encourage, even though
the flash of strawberry hair and olive eyes
made Dale wince a little inside.
It wasn't fair to Chrysta to suspect her
of making a move on Kelly,
just because Chrysta watched Kelly
with such wistful admiration.
There was no law against pining from afar.
It certainly wasn't fair to Kelly
to suspect her of anything like cheating,
when she had never given Dale
any reason to doubt her fidelity.
Dale didn't want to be that gal who
wouldn't let her partner have lesbian friends.
It was just that Dale knew
she wasn't such a catch herself anymore,
and they looked so happy together,
she couldn't help thinking
of how things could go wrong.
The open mike drew a crowd
of artists and poets and other bohemian folks.
Kelly had dressed up in a peach-and-teal skirt
and a peasant blouse whose sleeves
fluttered every time she spoke.
Chrysta arrived in an emerald shawl
that brought out the green of her eyes,
draped over a caramel sweater-dress
with gold filament winking among the wool.
Dale was almost the only woman wearing jeans,
and it left her feeling horribly out of place.
The other one was Eryn, and hers
were held together with safety pins --
in this cold. Dale shook her head in disbelief.
The poetry proved to be worth the trip,
though, both the spoken and signed performances.
Chrysta delivered her lines with sprightly grace,
while Kelly moved with smooth deliberation.
They even did a duet.
Later on, when Kelly went off in search of
the hot caramel apple cider,
Chrysta turned to Dale and asked,
Is there anything I can do to make you stop hating me?
I don't hate you, Dale said at once,
startled by the accusation.
Sorry, Chrysta signed.
It's just ... you don't seem to like me much,
and I'm wondering what I did wrong.
It's nothing, Dale insisted
as she turned around to look for Kelly.
Chrysta gave an audible sigh
as she followed the line of Dale's gaze.
It's not like that, Chrysta signed.
... no, of course not, Dale said
a little too slowly.
What, you think I have a chance
with ALL THESE spots? Chrysta said,
signing "freckles" as if she were trying
to point out every last dot on her face.
With a sudden sinking sensation,
Dale realized that Chrysta did not
think of herself as attractive at all,
nevermind that Dale saw her as a threat
(... and was being kind of a jerk about it ...)
or that Kelly charmed everyone
but flirted seriously with just a few
(... which Dale really ought to have remembered ...),
and the whole situation had turned into an awkward mess.
I'm sorry, Dale signed.
You haven't done anything
but trip over my personal baggage.
You're almost all that Kelly ever talks about,
you know, said Chrysta. She spent hours
trying to guess what kind of poetry you'd like.
I don't know enough about poetry
to have real opinions, Dale said.
I just think it's pretty.
She paused, and then added,
I think you're pretty too.
Chrysta shrugged,
clearly not believing her,
but allowed Dale to draw her
into a discussion of poetry anyway.
By the time Kelly came back
with two cups of caramel apple cider
and one cup of black coffee,
the atmosphere at the table
was almost comfortable.
* * *
Notes:
"The green-eyed monster" is an old kenning for jealousy.
See my reference photo for Chrysta.
Appaloosa horses have spots, and the leopard appaloosa pattern particularly resembles freckles. Along with leopard or cheetah spots, this is a common comparison for freckles. Some people with freckles love it; others hate it. It's generally not a safe thing to say aloud unless you're sure the other person is okay with it. Chrysta just plain hates her skin.
Read about the Beverly School for the Deaf.
Café Bartlett Square is a popular coffeehouse in Jamaica Plain.
See the sign for "freckles." In American Sign Language, intensity and plurality can be indicated with repetition. Linguistically it's similar to the way some vocal languages mark these things with a change in tone. Instead of voice inflection, there is body language, with such things as speed or crispness of gesture conveying emotional connotations. Chrysta's dislike of her freckles comes through even to Dale, who is not a native signer but lives with one and thus has a lot of everyday practice in the language and its nuances.
American Sign Language is customarily a two-handed language, but people still discuss aspects of one-handed sign language. Different types of signs may be categorized as one-handed, two-handed symmetrical, and two-handed asymmetrical signs. The training signs for deaf dogs are often abbreviated into one-handed signs so the owner can hold a leash. Some symmetrical signs are easily abbreviated by half. Others rely on mirrored action, as in "open." Asymmetrical signs like "write" usually do not abbreviate well with one hand. Signing one-handed is kind of like talking with your mouth full: sloppy and a little hard to understand, but something that people often attempt anyhow.
See the ASL signs for "microphone" and "poetry." Deaf poetry uses fluidity of motion, rhythm of gestures, and repetition of shapes to create a lyrical effect in visual rather than auditory mode. Watch some poetry in sign language.
Bohemian refers to a creative lifestyle. There are tips on how to be bohemian.
trope_bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony & Shirley Barrette. It belongs to the series Walking the Beat."Green Eyes"
The first time it happened,
Dale and Kelly were stocking up
on groceries after a winter storm.
Dale came back to their cart
with her hands full of soup cans
and found Kelly chatting away
with a lovely young woman,
their fingers flying and faces shining.
The stranger had smooth red-gold hair
fastened into two long braids, and
arresting green eyes in a heart-shaped face
so heavily marked with freckles
that she reminded Dale of an appaloosa.
Dale! Come meet Chrysta, signed Kelly.
She just moved into the neighborhood this month.
Chrysta went to the Beverly School for the Deaf
like I did, and some of my same teachers are still there.
Chrysta drifted behind Kelly
as Dale approached them,
looking waifish and a little wary.
Dale put the soup into the cart.
Hello, she signed politely.
Welcome to the neighborhood.
Chrysta gave her a shy smile then.
You sign? she asked.
Kelly taught me, Dale said
with a practiced flick of her fingers.
Kelly and Chrysta exchanged email addresses,
then everyone went on with their shopping.
Dale couldn't help but notice the longing glance
that Chrysta cast after Kelly.
Well, it was hard sometimes,
being Deaf among Hearing people.
It got lonely.
Dale tried not to think about
being lesbian among straight people.
The next time it happened,
Dale and Kelly were at
Café Bartlett Square.
Kelly had gone to get them a table
while Dale placed their orders.
Dale juggled an armload of
Kelly's turkey sandwich and her own Cubano,
plus the hot chocolate and Ceylon tea,
cane held awkwardly in the crook of her elbow
as she headed toward the table.
Before Dale could get there,
Chrysta bounded up on her long slim legs
with a double espresso steaming in her hand,
green eyes glinting with energy.
Kelly brightened visibly and began telling her
about something or other the local artists had planned.
Without really thinking,
Dale paused in the aisle,
watching the two women together,
both of them Deaf and beautiful and mobile.
The tea was too hot in its paper cup
and Dale was squeezing it perhaps a bit too hard
as it leaked scalding droplets over the rim,
and her bad knee was beginning to ache.
Then Kelly turned in her chair
to cast a worried look around the room.
She gave an urgent wave to Dale,
who finally shook herself back into motion.
What in the world were you waiting for?
Kelly signed. You shouldn't be standing around
without any support like that.
Dale put the food on the table and replied,
I didn't want to interrupt.
You can't interrupt, you live with me,
Kelly signed. Chrysta doesn't mind.
Dale said nothing,
losing herself in her sandwich.
Kelly picked up her turkey melt in one hand
and carried on conversation with the other.
Evidently she and Chrysta had no trouble
understanding the abbreviated signs
that sometimes confused Dale,
who could only follow about half
of what they were saying now.
Dale caught the sign for "microphone"
and something that might have been "poetry"
signed up the arm holding the turkey melt.
Finally Kelly set down her sandwich
and turned to Dale. There's an open mike
coming up in two weeks, Kelly signed.
Chrysta and I want to perform some ASL poetry.
You'll come with me, won't you?
Of course, Dale replied,
because she wanted to make Kelly happy
and signed poetry was beautiful,
even if these days Dale didn't always
have the energy to appreciate going out.
So it went, with Dale and Kelly
crossing paths with Chrysta
every few days -- on the sidewalks,
in stores, in restaurants, wherever they went.
Chrysta was trying to learn her new neighborhood,
Dale realized, and surely that was something
they ought to encourage, even though
the flash of strawberry hair and olive eyes
made Dale wince a little inside.
It wasn't fair to Chrysta to suspect her
of making a move on Kelly,
just because Chrysta watched Kelly
with such wistful admiration.
There was no law against pining from afar.
It certainly wasn't fair to Kelly
to suspect her of anything like cheating,
when she had never given Dale
any reason to doubt her fidelity.
Dale didn't want to be that gal who
wouldn't let her partner have lesbian friends.
It was just that Dale knew
she wasn't such a catch herself anymore,
and they looked so happy together,
she couldn't help thinking
of how things could go wrong.
The open mike drew a crowd
of artists and poets and other bohemian folks.
Kelly had dressed up in a peach-and-teal skirt
and a peasant blouse whose sleeves
fluttered every time she spoke.
Chrysta arrived in an emerald shawl
that brought out the green of her eyes,
draped over a caramel sweater-dress
with gold filament winking among the wool.
Dale was almost the only woman wearing jeans,
and it left her feeling horribly out of place.
The other one was Eryn, and hers
were held together with safety pins --
in this cold. Dale shook her head in disbelief.
The poetry proved to be worth the trip,
though, both the spoken and signed performances.
Chrysta delivered her lines with sprightly grace,
while Kelly moved with smooth deliberation.
They even did a duet.
Later on, when Kelly went off in search of
the hot caramel apple cider,
Chrysta turned to Dale and asked,
Is there anything I can do to make you stop hating me?
I don't hate you, Dale said at once,
startled by the accusation.
Sorry, Chrysta signed.
It's just ... you don't seem to like me much,
and I'm wondering what I did wrong.
It's nothing, Dale insisted
as she turned around to look for Kelly.
Chrysta gave an audible sigh
as she followed the line of Dale's gaze.
It's not like that, Chrysta signed.
... no, of course not, Dale said
a little too slowly.
What, you think I have a chance
with ALL THESE spots? Chrysta said,
signing "freckles" as if she were trying
to point out every last dot on her face.
With a sudden sinking sensation,
Dale realized that Chrysta did not
think of herself as attractive at all,
nevermind that Dale saw her as a threat
(... and was being kind of a jerk about it ...)
or that Kelly charmed everyone
but flirted seriously with just a few
(... which Dale really ought to have remembered ...),
and the whole situation had turned into an awkward mess.
I'm sorry, Dale signed.
You haven't done anything
but trip over my personal baggage.
You're almost all that Kelly ever talks about,
you know, said Chrysta. She spent hours
trying to guess what kind of poetry you'd like.
I don't know enough about poetry
to have real opinions, Dale said.
I just think it's pretty.
She paused, and then added,
I think you're pretty too.
Chrysta shrugged,
clearly not believing her,
but allowed Dale to draw her
into a discussion of poetry anyway.
By the time Kelly came back
with two cups of caramel apple cider
and one cup of black coffee,
the atmosphere at the table
was almost comfortable.
* * *
Notes:
"The green-eyed monster" is an old kenning for jealousy.
See my reference photo for Chrysta.
Appaloosa horses have spots, and the leopard appaloosa pattern particularly resembles freckles. Along with leopard or cheetah spots, this is a common comparison for freckles. Some people with freckles love it; others hate it. It's generally not a safe thing to say aloud unless you're sure the other person is okay with it. Chrysta just plain hates her skin.
Read about the Beverly School for the Deaf.
Café Bartlett Square is a popular coffeehouse in Jamaica Plain.
See the sign for "freckles." In American Sign Language, intensity and plurality can be indicated with repetition. Linguistically it's similar to the way some vocal languages mark these things with a change in tone. Instead of voice inflection, there is body language, with such things as speed or crispness of gesture conveying emotional connotations. Chrysta's dislike of her freckles comes through even to Dale, who is not a native signer but lives with one and thus has a lot of everyday practice in the language and its nuances.
American Sign Language is customarily a two-handed language, but people still discuss aspects of one-handed sign language. Different types of signs may be categorized as one-handed, two-handed symmetrical, and two-handed asymmetrical signs. The training signs for deaf dogs are often abbreviated into one-handed signs so the owner can hold a leash. Some symmetrical signs are easily abbreviated by half. Others rely on mirrored action, as in "open." Asymmetrical signs like "write" usually do not abbreviate well with one hand. Signing one-handed is kind of like talking with your mouth full: sloppy and a little hard to understand, but something that people often attempt anyhow.
See the ASL signs for "microphone" and "poetry." Deaf poetry uses fluidity of motion, rhythm of gestures, and repetition of shapes to create a lyrical effect in visual rather than auditory mode. Watch some poetry in sign language.
Bohemian refers to a creative lifestyle. There are tips on how to be bohemian.
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(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-26 08:17 pm (UTC)A great expression.
I am very freckly, though not as much as Chrysta (ref.pic), and of course(?) much less visibly so than when I was a kid. I was sometimes called "freckle-face", but not enough to bother me. Sometimes I call it "melanin maldistribution", as a take-off on the phrase "melanin-deficient" used to describe us "white" folks.
This sign for "poetry" is initialized* from a sign for "song" *by using the ASL handshape for the letter "P" on the active hand. (
Thoughts
Date: 2014-01-26 08:26 pm (UTC)Every relationship has challenges now and again. Responsible people deal with them.
>> A great expression. <<
Thank you!
>> I am very freckly, though not as much as Chrysta (ref.pic), and of course(?) much less visibly so than when I was a kid. <<
I happen to like freckles.
>> I was sometimes called "freckle-face", but not enough to bother me. Sometimes I call it "melanin maldistribution", as a take-off on the phrase "melanin-deficient" used to describe us "white" folks. <<
I have noticed that people tend to be more accepting of small amounts of freckles and/or pale golden freckles. The more there are, and the higher the contrast with surrounding skin, the likelier that bystanders will be rude and thus create an aversion in the wearer.
>> This sign for "poetry" is initialized* from a sign for "song" *by using the ASL handshape for the letter "P" on the active hand. <<
Oh, that is so cool! I'm familiar with initialization as a category of sign vocabulary, but I hadn't spotted the P-shape. When I'm writing about Deaf characters, however, it makes my linguistic aptitude focus more on sign language. I'm learning more about it in the process, which is fun and useful.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-27 05:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-27 07:18 am (UTC)That's the best of all possible reasons. :-)
Yes...
Date: 2014-01-27 07:53 am (UTC)Yay!
Date: 2014-01-27 08:05 am (UTC)Re: Yay!
Date: 2014-01-28 03:14 am (UTC)And the title of this story, though not the contents, reminded me of a killer of a song called "Little Green Eyes" sung by Kathy Mar on her CD Plus Ça Change (lyrics by Mercedes Lackey).
Re: Yay!
Date: 2014-01-28 03:17 am (UTC)Agreed.
>> And the title of this story, though not the contents, reminded me of a killer of a song called "Little Green Eyes" sung by Kathy Mar on her CD Plus Ça Change (lyrics by Mercedes Lackey). <<
Oh, I've heard that one too.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-26 05:40 pm (UTC)Some people I know take performance ASL to the next level; they sign-sing, interpreting concerts. (You may have heard of Judi Miller out your way?) If this interests, I know of several videos I can link to...
<3 the ending, too. :)
Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-27 04:21 am (UTC)Yeah, I think she is HAWT.
>> Some people I know take performance ASL to the next level; they sign-sing, interpreting concerts. (You may have heard of Judi Miller out your way?) If this interests, I know of several videos I can link to... <<
I have seen videos of her performing alongside
>> <3 the ending, too. :) <<
Yay! That makes me happy. Jealousy doesn't just go away, but you can choose how you deal with it.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-27 06:15 am (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2014-01-27 08:00 am (UTC)I think the most effective solution would be to analyze the vocabulary of two-handed signs and determine abbreviations for those that still work one-handed, and synonyms for those that don't make sense if abbreviated. Then it would just be a matter of promoting awareness of the new vocabulary, which would be highly useful not just to people who can only use one hand, but also to two-handed signers who are holding onto something.
Re: Yes...
Date: 2014-02-04 03:16 am (UTC)I like this poem a lot, and not just because Colleen has freckles :) I'd love to see some Deaf poetry performed.
(no subject)
Date: 2014-01-27 07:20 pm (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-01-27 07:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-05 05:06 am (UTC)Thank you!
Date: 2014-02-05 05:14 am (UTC)I agree. I enjoy exploring these in my writing, whether the characters handle them well or poorly.
Fishbowl is open this very minute, if you want to ask for more of these characters and/or these emotions. Today's theme is "love" but that leaves you a lot of leeway for prompts.
>> Sometimes things like jealousy and anger are shown as flaws, when the flaw is the mishandling of them. <<
I think it can go either way. Sometimes the emotion is valid, but badly handled. That happens a lot, because processing emotions effectively is a learned skill. Other times the emotion may be generalized to the point of toxicity, as in someone who is always angry, or jealous of everything without rhyme or reason; and then it's a problem even if the person is trying to handle it sanely. That can be caused by a crappy situation or warped biochemistry or other things.
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-02-05 06:15 pm (UTC)I was actually pondering that when I was writing up the response - I was thinking of mentioning "acceptance" of an emotional state and realizing that created some ambiguity. "I accept that I'm angry" can be "I am not denying that I'm angry" or it can mean "I think that it's reasonable and just that I am angry" and those are completely different types of thoughts.
At baseline, it's always good to accept - recognize - that one is feeling a strong emotion because denying it can steer a person wrong. But as you say, sometimes it's good to recognize that the emotion isn't coming from a healthy place and that it's a sign of something being wrong.
When I was mentioning flaws, though, I was thinking of how I (and some other folks I know) would sometimes see certain emotions as character flaws - a better person wouldn't be angry/jealous/whatever. And that, I think, is a good route for denial to creep in. "I AM NOT ANGRY! Only a weak-minded person would be angry at this! I'm just taking wildly overblown actions for reasons that are perfectly rational, which I'll explain once cognitive dissonance percolates for a few moments."
Re: Thank you!
Date: 2014-02-05 09:26 pm (UTC)Acceptance is often a conflation of two separate things: awareness/acknowledgement and agreement. This is where counseling often breaks down.
Acknowledgement is crucial in order to interact with the world as it is. If you're not aware of what's happening inside and around you, then you get pushed around by it instead of being able to make informed choices. Here the challenge is primarily about observing and identifying.
Agreement is where people usually balk. Nobody wants to agree with parts of their life or personality that are horrible. Trying to force that can be very destructive. There are ways it can be useful, but the desire for that has to come from within, it can't be imposed from without. Even if the situation is something that can't be changed, people usually want to leave it tagged "this sucks" rather than "this is okay." Because you never know, some opportunity for change might emerge later and you wouldn't want to miss that.
>> At baseline, it's always good to accept - recognize - that one is feeling a strong emotion because denying it can steer a person wrong. But as you say, sometimes it's good to recognize that the emotion isn't coming from a healthy place and that it's a sign of something being wrong. <<
Emotions as abstracts are neither good nor evil. They are responses. Anger is a result of unmet needs. Its purpose is to prod us to change things. Without anger, people can be apathetic and not bother to solve problems.
If someone violates you, anger is appropriate, and it helps motivate you to stop them and/or seek redress. You may express it in healthy (block a punch, file a harassment report, scream into a pillow) or unhealthy (get drunk, find a different abusive partner) ways.
Then there are cases where anger is not a response to an acute threat, as intended, but rather to a chronic condition. It can happen with PTSD or other psychological issues where someone's personality is damaged to the point of getting "stuck" in this gear. That's always a problem, because then you can't really distinguish between valid offense and background noise. Much the same happens with biochemical imbalance, where the body gets stuck and takes the mind for a ride, in the absence of specific cause (or for trivial cause).
>> When I was mentioning flaws, though, I was thinking of how I (and some other folks I know) would sometimes see certain emotions as character flaws - a better person wouldn't be angry/jealous/whatever. <<
The emotion is still neither good nor evil. It can manifest either way. Righteous anger can be a virtue. Blind rage is a vice. Part of what makes the difference is the direction its pointed. Part is about whether the person chooses to push toward a laudable goal, or neglects to refrain from a harmful one. Anger is a character flaw when someone builds up an increasing tendency toward violent emotions, and convinces himself that this is okay, and doesn't make any effort to modulate his behavior. What we consider "moral character" is about deciding what's appropriate, and that requires self-control.
>> And that, I think, is a good route for denial to creep in. "I AM NOT ANGRY! Only a weak-minded person would be angry at this! I'm just taking wildly overblown actions for reasons that are perfectly rational, which I'll explain once cognitive dissonance percolates for a few moments." <<
Exactly.
This pops up in Goth Paganism, which specializes in dealing with negative emotions. The premise is that if you confront them directly, you can handle them in safe and meaningful ways, and make good use of what is quite a lot of power. This is preferable to stuffing everything into a closet from which it will emerge at the least opportune moment. But many people think that "dark" is the same as evil. They don't want to deal with dark emotions or deities. So they lose some of their personal power, and a lot of their control.