Where Stills Will Quiet

There is a dripping dripping dripping
in your head
and on the floor lay drops of red,
the pen is bent down to the ground
where ink stains without a sound

There is a dripping dripping dripping
in your head
and you’ve carved up the shades of said,
the white beneath a slitted wrist
grows darker with a weighted fist

Failure failure failure
echoes ‘round
where unpacked boxes held you bound,
dust lay thick on untouched stairs
and panic hot, begins to flare

Failure failure failure
echoes ‘round
when victory in daylight can’t be found,
march yourself on to the slaughter
as ink has waned becoming only water

Fear is beating beating beating
till legs collapse
loving words setting deadly traps,
The words hang heavy in sympathy
Not understanding that wings can’t set you free

Fear is beating beating beating
till legs collapse
you’re angry now, the shy’s elapsed.
The dust has clogged your breath too long
Misery has made you strong

No more no more no more
you cry
you are done being chased by the sky,
the sun will sink, day to night
and with a pen you’ll relearn to fight

No more no more no more
you cry
you’ll not let another lie
slip past these ears, settle in that box
you’ll find new words to make your rock

You’re strong you’re strong you’re strong
enough to fight
that box will never fit your light,
open up and show what’s been concealed
so that all your colors may be revealed

You’re strong you’re strong you’re strong
enough to fight
when words become your satellites,
understand what it is you need
that to write, to love, to live you must learn to bleed

The dripping will cease,
the failure will drown,
the beating the beating
will be tied down.

No more no more
you are strong enough
to taste the stills of
self love.