Thorn Within

There's a thorn within me Piercing my chest when I breathe Stabbing my ribs when I laugh Causing me pain when I work It's a sinister thorn I've had it all through my life It beats every day to keep me alive But the thorn within is killing me now Even when I'm still It palpitates in a frenzy Short of breath, I stop to recover The thorn within laughs I'd beg it to stop But I'd die along with it Laughing as it kills me The thorn within beats out its rhythm