Beast of Burden

A life of burden and heavy loads Protracted suffering and dead end roads What crimes have I committed That my fates are predisposed To lonely pain, waves of rain From endless storms of woe I’ve faced down demons, slaughtered fears More times than many have known Worn the bravest faces Prevailed in treacherous places That many might dare survive Lived through dreadful dreams In vivid, wide-eyed, wakeful hours Still I embrace every God-given day Full of life and spiritual prowess To confront new foes fate might summon With faith, hope and mental power When nightfall signals time for resting I tally another day’s shortfalls Then count my blessings The next breath I take Proof I’ve broken even Still quite alive… A day closer to life’s reave Another day gone like the changing seasons Years and decades have followed me here The last chapter or word of our stories Is seldom clear When life’s anguish fades with our final breath Have we claimed our reward or our punishment When making acquaintance with Death?