The possession of a mad man is the only terror

It started soft and slowly
With only shallow things
An itch or twitch or swallow
But kindly not from me

The walls would twist and turn at night
And I’d be seeing things
A pillow to hold a choir within
And slowly simple things
Would do more then make me mourn myself
Do more then make me bleed

My chest was heaving rocks and smoke
Thrumming up inside
I wiped the bloody spit from my lips
And gathered up my mind

My hands already twitching before I had arrived
I was seething but believing it would be alright
I recited prayer words to hold me nice and tight
And recited to the people what I’d gathered in my mind

Fate had run tired of time
But perfect was it now
To spread its bloody blackened wings
And let the truth spill out

And it was burbling out my throat
And spilling like wine onto the floor
And changing it forevermore

It felt like drowning but without hope
It’s laughter rocking my only core
And making me feel like I needed more

This ending here was not the end
But it should’ve been
My thoughts my own left out discovered
By everyone but me

But I still know the only truth
My wide eyes heard its breath come through
And it’s not inconceivable
That I mustn't have been the only one
Speaking in my mind.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Fowler Avatar
July 27, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Zoe, this is quite the trip! Very smooth read, and engaging. Congratulations! :)
Crout Avatar
July 27, 2025 at 11:36 PM
<(°o°)> Thank you very much.
Fulkerson Avatar
July 25, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Congratulations on your winning work!!!
Crout Avatar
July 27, 2025 at 11:35 PM
thanks a lot!
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