The Story Behind ‘My Catharsis’: A Dark Reflection in Art & Verse

There are moments when the soul speaks not in words, but in weeping silence, in brushstrokes born of sorrow. My Catharsis was created from one such moment—a painting forged in darkness, shaped by a storm raging within. The piece is not just a portrait of shadow and reflection, but a visual echo of a poem I wrote during a time of quiet unraveling. Below, I share the verses that gave life to the image—a lament of grief, solitude, and the unseen stormy seas that run deep beneath the surface. This is where the art began. This is where the mirror cracked.

Raging Seas Within, of Black Tears

Written in shadow and sorrow, by Katie Culhane

Lust and agony live within thy soul,
Leaving one to stand alone
In that cold, gloomy place once known as home.

Thy every move leaves thou lifeless—
All seems too far gone.
The river begins to flow
Down thy skin so pure.

Something so beautiful,
Destroyed in the moments of time.
Thy beauty turns to dark
From where thy black tears flowed.

It seems so meaningless—so helpless.
Left alone, thy soul cannot grasp
All the anger and cruelty of humanity
In the moments of time.

Her soul hides the sorrow she feels.
When thy soul can sing no more,
Hope will fade.

Do they see what rivers flow?
No.
For there is nothing to be seen—
Because it is kept within.

They cannot look within,
Blinded by their pride and shallow intentions.
Their minds cannot notice
The rivers that run dark.

Forever staying within thee, so deep.
Locked inside—
Too difficult to escape.
There is no salvation
From the eternal depths within.

No shelter from the raging seas
Beneath the surface.
Abandoned without warmth,
No reflection to see in the mirror.

Longing for gusting winds
To sweep her off her feet.
Abused. Tormented.
No one to free her
From the demons imprisoned within.

Thy eyes, mysterious—the shade of moss.
Thy skin, pale—so pure.
Thou can no longer be seen
For the lingering of these tears
That have been shed.

But these black tears remain unknown.
The river widens,
Drowning thy soul.
For they live within.

These are black tears that have been shed—
They will never be seen.
They create the deep, dark raging storms within.

Her storms will harm none,
Only the soul where they dwell.

A tear that falls will disappear—
But the reason why it fell
Will remain forever.

Alone for now,
Falls a tear of sorrow.
A single drop,
With so much to behold—
A story that is unforgiving to some.

Words that lie inscribed into your soul.
The pain can never be destroyed,
For it burns so deep,
Fueling her light to shine ever brighter
Through the darkest storms within.

✨ From Poem to Song

I had the privilege of collaborating with two incredibly talented artists to form Lucerna Mundi (@Lucerna_Mundi), an orchestral black metal band born from shadow and soul. The band is composed of Anthony Ba'al Abdo (@anthony_baal_abdo)—composer, guitarist, and vocalist; Clara Luke (@written.by.candlelight)—writer and lyrical conjurer; and myself—as the visual artist behind the imagery.

I'll share more about the artwork I created for Lucerna in a future blog post, but this collaboration began when Anthony saw the art I made for my poem “Raging Seas Within, of Black Tears.” He connected deeply with it and expressed a desire to turn it into a song for Lucerna’s upcoming album. Clara and I then worked together to adapt the poem into lyrics that would fit the musical and emotional tone of the band.

When I finally heard the completed song, I was truly awestruck. To witness something I created evolve into such a powerful and haunting musical piece was surreal.

Now, I know black metal isn't for everyone—but Lucerna Mundi was forged with purpose, passion, and a shared love of storytelling through shadow, sound, and art.

△ We are Lucerna Mundi—one flame in a realm of darkness. Et Lux In Tenebris Lucet (The light shines in the darkness).

It was a true honor to be part of this collaboration, and I’m so proud of what we created together.

This piece, “Raging Seas Within, of Black Tears,” inspired a haunting musical adaptation titled “Catharsis” by Lucerna Mundi—a collaboration born of sorrow, strength, and shared shadows.
🎧 Listen to Catharsis by Lucerna Mundi

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🖤  Take Home the Darkness | Feel the Light

If this piece speaks to you, prints of My Catharsis are now available in my shop.
You can also select a special edition that includes the full poem printed alongside the artwork.
✨ → View in Shop