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Poetry: Addiction

by TC Crumpton

Delivery from the monster within:

I imprison my vessel in darkness too fixed to breathe.
My limbs cease to move absent imp's motive.
I dare not speak without permission.
My flesh shivers in this metal box.
I am a shell vacant of air.
My core burns.
I am torture.

My chamber wears no lock.

I carve a stone crown to contain my corpse.
Inside devil's hollow venom, I cower.
I made my bed of nails.
My own hell I suffer.
I glimpse strands of gold sent to summon me.
My ears heed the whisper of the breeze.

Venom spills from my veins.

My demon begs to feed.
He paints my skin scarlet
He ties my eyes shut.
I can still see crystal streams through the stone cap.
My glass arms thrust to release my secret.

My horned fiend bids death one more round.

My paper crust crumbles.
I witness white wings crush
My rock lid to pebble.
I sense the sun enter to smother the imp.

My vessel is free.

I breathe in moments of pink, yellow, purple, and sometimes black.
My limbs dance in the green.
My untied eyes reap tears.

My chamber wears no lock.

My demon visits my dreams to tempt return to hell.
I choose blood to course my veins.
I choose to battle the poison.

I choose light.

My angel arms with keystone.
I fall to my knees.

My God bids life.

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