Wither

13th Chapter

Substance fading,
wading thru limitless
virtue seeking vitality,
frailty confirmed,
living unfulfilled,
kneeling, praying
to deaf ethereal ears
leaving personifications
captured in grandiose
ideals remaining in
states of non-fruition,
regret mounting,
cloaked, scapegoat
looking like
reflections in pools
where stones thrown
released potential
unrealized…

Exhale.
Breathe.
Exhale.
Breathe heavily.
Exhale.

Anxiety fleeing
like run away slaves,
headed toward (un)welcomed
places where unfamiliar faces
stare, glance, looking
for raisins in bowls of rice,
searching, answers fleeting
like spousal abusers
post- “I love you”,
pre- “I hate you,
during - thumps, screams, bleeding,
confidence leaving
allowing for stagnated retreating
deeper into oneself making easier
the lack of growth to impregnate
hope with second guessing,
abort…

Inhale.
Gasp.
Inhale.
Gasp heavily.
Inhale.