The Flint That Ignited My Fire

Each night lurid visions danced before me in the dark staring with eyes of an eagle, sharp beak of a hawk. I woke, and in the mirror, my face was white as chalk, screaming with the brazen voice of a raven's squawk. It seems I'd been struck with some cursed malediction. That's what a shrink said, "It's an abnormal infliction. I'd like to observe you for a time, under constriction and also suggest you might pray for a benediction." Did he believe I was sick enough for extreme unction? Or standing at the crossroad of a mental malfunction? Anger was building, and I had the wild compunction to run away before he ordered a restraining injunction. He ran after me shouting, "I'm afraid you're delirious!" I laughed out loud and shouted back, "Are you serious? You won't lock me up! Stop acting so damned imperious." Then voices started whispering. It was quite mysterious. DELIRIOUS? NO, NOT ME!!! Go away and let me be! I heard them rant all day and night, in shadowed halls, snarling voices calling my name from within the walls. In dreams they cried out for me in deep guttural calls I cowered in a corner each time I heard their footfalls. What trick were they using to infuse me with insanity? They moved much too close, robbing me of my vanity I cursed them with vile words of unleashed profanity then thought, is this a case of psychotic inhumanity? Anger became the flint to ignite the flames of my fire Each whisper became a thorn, condemning me a liar. On and on they chanted, like evil demons in a choir as the walls of my deep abyss rose higher and higher. The beasts never tear my flesh; they claw at my soul. I'm suffering with emotional stress and losing control. There's no virtue left inside of me that I can still extol. I'm being swallowed into cryptic depths of a sinkhole. DELIRIOUS? Is it possible I may be? Fiendish laughter vexes me. August 9th, 2020 N-A Rerun 10 Contest Sponsor: John Hamilton Original Post Date: July 24th, 2020 Written for the Delirium Contest