The weight of the world presses on my shoulders
The hands of an unfeeling
oppressor
Digging in nails
Drawing blood
Shredding flesh from fragile
bones
Until there is nothing left of
who I was, am or will be
Tears of acid gouging rough
paths in sunken cheeks
Below hollow eyes staring out
in vain
Searching for salvation
Seeking the unattainable
Burned by circumstances beyond
my control
Ashes of thoughts, destroyed
by their own creation
Curled, child-like, under soft
toys and weighted blankets
Protected from the harsh
realities of the outside world
Cocooned by wretchedness
Cossetted by melancholy
A fate I have come, in my
wisdom, to accept
Bereft of hope in any
direction I happen to look
Maybe one winter’s day I will
find my true self
Frozen at the bottom of an
unfathomable well
Lingering there
Clinging on
Wondering if there’s any
escape from this darkness
Or a flame I could ignite
within myself
Damp wings unfurled against
the dying embers of day
Struggling to see the beauty
of their colours
Taking flight
No direction
Hoping the light will guide me
to a better place
Where the weight is lifted
from these tired bones
