Hell

I’ve burned in the icy fires of solitary,
Against the darkness that devours all light,
trembling.

I’ve stood alone in crowded spaces,
The bitter taste of indifference,
burning my tongue.

I’ve nursed my own wounds,
Self-inflicted lacerations to my soul,
they sting still.

I’ve been through a hell designed just for me,
Where I served as architect and keeper,
a cage without a key.

I’ve taken myself apart piece by piece,
Setting fire to each tattered nerve,
to watch myself burn.

You may threaten to undo me,
In a vain attempt to scare me,
Promise me pain the likes of which I’ve not seen before.
If you walked an hour with my soul you would know,
There is no such thing.

I've paid for a lifetime of sins in a night,
I've faced my fears and had them destroy me,
Yet, I'm still here.
-C.W.P.