you breathed life into me
promptly took it away
trapped in an animated
lights on, state of decay
i’m floundering here
struggling to be just okay
trying to breathe, to stand
but struggling i stay
you built choice into what i am
promptly took it away
the only decisions i still make
what scraps to wear, what to say
my tongue turns to lead nightly
sets on fire in the day
my soul is losing lighting
from trying to survive this way
i’m terrified you’ll take more
that’s your pattern: take away
i want the chance to breathe freely
to wake up and live one day
i gather up bits of hope
embers that made it anyway
and keep shambling along
desperate for the chance to live someday.
By Daphne Shadows
