PENITENCE

Pressures building;
Life and fear...
Fear of life;
End is near.
What am I feeling?
It's so intense.
Nothing matters.
Makes no sense.

They call me anti-social;
Hey I think that's fine!
They say I'm incorrigible;
Maybe they ain't so blind!

Institutionalization;
Product of my past...
Think I'll give up on tomorrow;
It's the only way I'll last.

Faith eroding;
Curse and pray.
Penitence...
So much to pay.

No forgiveness;
Can't forget.
Death hovers...
Stage is set.

They call me anti-social;
Hey I think that's fine!
They say I'm incorrigible;
Maybe they ain't so blind!

I'm so afraid of freedom,
Yet without it I will die;
With it comes reminders -
More reasons not to try.

Pressures building;
Love and fear...
Fear of love;
End is near.

What am I feeling?
How it burns;
I fear that
For which I yearn.


© Barry Veinotte