Prison of Chalk Lines

He wonders in silence aloud screaming speaking to his own reflection unseen memorized moments unfolding backward like a rubber band unwinding in its given way and own time as fear brings clouds nearer yet denial looms larger than life a victim of someone else escaped culpability captures him again overtaken suddenly in shock he looks dismayed at his own handiwork so he calls a tempest forward drawing on his smallest self intentionally blinded by accident using his own staff stabbing his heart in pain rather than holding onto firm ground some angst jumps across his chest rejected by God's unsent mercy disallowed by his own sheer will an unforgiving menace to himself suffocated by his own hands that reach from behind him like a serpent as if someone else was his poison stepping backward as fast as he gains like a turtle in his shell he shies away alone this night a meal digesting hastily recapitulating the day ahead even before it has begun this kind of present haunts him today as yesterday's unlearned lessons creep into another day and life swirling as if in a vortex he refuses to breach the circle that grips him tightly as if in his own prison of chalk lines