From July, 2019…
Crawl out of my skin
Creep down the curb
Slide into the gutter
Sink out of the world
Grasp at my face
Clench my eyes
Crush my heart
Curse at the sky
Back into the shadows
Away from the light
Fall into the realm
Of perpetual night
On mud and rock
Wet and cold
Dripping echoes
Crouch and fold
Fool! You’re not alone
You cannot flee
You tried to hide
But they followed thee
They sneak up the walls
Stretch, reach my ear
They snarl and snivel
Spittle and sneer
They spit and sweat
And bleed and cry
It’s getting too deep
It’s getting too high
It flows down my throat
Backs into my sinus
Pours out my nostrils
As I drown in detritus
The pressure rises
Something gives way
Flushed out of the dark
Into the light of day
I retch and heave
Drip and dry
Rise from my knees
Squint at the sky
I lumber to return
To my abandoned flesh
I put it back on
But it has to stretch
They stalk me still
They’ll come for me forever
I’ll never be ready
I can only surrender