waves of emotion
overcome the desperation of souls
longing for the clarity
that only comes from
finding the ghosts creeping
along in the night shadows.

parchment paper secrets
written in smudged ink
along the hemmed lines of the
sewn-shut and mended heart,
running in tears black from weary eyes.

they tell you "drink, darling.
it'll make it all go away."
but their temporary fortresses
of twigs and mortar go up in flames
of frustration, self-defeating
passionate moves of lust to remove
that which consumes, defeats
full-grown prosperity inside the mind.

running water and streams
flow to the life-choking weed of
hatred, of bitterness, spreading
through like a sickness
consuming every living part
of the being, filling it with
black lust.

thorny roses, pain in the flesh,
the bleeding physical reminder
of the intermittent digested
love you thought you had
deep within the darkness.

devilish lies whispered in
niave ears of those
willing to listen.
shut it off, close your mind
numb your senses
ignore and hope you
never have to deal with
the haunting ghosts of
the past
that choose to eat you alive,
one segment of your red, beating heart at a time.

Don't give in. Don't ever give in.