Overwhelmed

a poem

Inspiration has been showing up in a slightly unexpected form for me recently: poetry. It feels a bit random, this sudden urge to write verse cropping up so often – perhaps harkening back to my days writing song lyrics? – but honestly? I’m just rolling with it when the mood strikes. I’ve found it often goes hand-in-hand with needing to get some persistent thoughts or feelings out, like opening a window in a stuffy room. Seriously, if you’ve never tried scribbling down a few lines when things feel heavy, or just finding any way to release those pent-up feelings, I highly recommend giving it a shot.

Here’s a poem that came out of that very space just this morning…

Into The Abyss

Voices screaming
Every direction
Me! Me! Me!

My brain burns
Wants to burst
Free! Free! Free!

Work calls out
Unpenned, undrawn
Due! Due! Due!

Family waits
Health declines
True! True! True!

Lists grow long
Tasks undone
See! See! See!

Joy feels lost
Peace is numb
Flee! Flee! Flee!

Mind races
Body lags
Slow! Slow! Slow!

Focus frays
Energy saps
Low! Low! Low!

Stillness calls
Take a breath
Plea! Plea! Plea!

One clear path
All I ask
Be! Be! Be!

Substance fades
Worn-out charades
Thin! Thin! Thin!

I’m enough
Maybe not
Spin! Spin! Spin!

Shadows pull
Sinking fast
Deep! Deep! Deep!

World grows faint
Final rest
Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!

A reaching out
Dispelling doubt
Hand! Hand! Hand!

Not alone
On solid stone
Stand! Stand! Stand!

One small spark
Will ignites
Fight! Fight! Fight!

Darkness breaks
Shadows flee
Light! Light! Light!