Lingering Love, Slipping Sanity

Haunted with hope, The love forgotten kisses my brain, In time passing so causing strain, Thoughts stalking And seeking, Injecting its venomous tendrils in my neck through its teeth . Stuck such as a snake bite. Weaving into my bloodstream Simmering into my brain. Vivid visions of her follow me Her cough is behind me to the left, No right, Covered by the shade of the night. The coughing is closer. I stare into the sea of crowds Many stare back. Their eyes piercing. I feel the onslaught of judgement The whip of whispers lashes onto my back Seeming to destroy my flesh. The cats with nine tails clawing at my skin. Even Jesus wept. Her ailment couldn’t keep my kisses away. But her spirit shook my bones away from my body, I could see myself. Stumbling, neck red with bite marks, eyes red with tears. For the man before me was no longer filled with my own spirit, he fell to the ground. Wails erupted from his mouth like the shrieks of those tortured in the pits of hell. Love once so strong now hast led me to madness in its absence.