I have been plagued by many nightmares over the last few years and turned the
experience into a story of which this poem is a part.
Intro:
Written words are powerful in their unique ability to portray an image
personal to the individual who allows himself to become a canvas on which the
author loosely paints, surpassing all other forms of media in which one is
presented with external stimulation.
When the sights and sounds of a story are created within the reader’s mind,
the result is something that can never be duplicated over speaker or screen. As
each individual will perceive the story in a slightly different fashion, the
images are as varied as there are people.
Normalcy
In the beginning his life was normal
Like any other small boy
He ran and jumped and had some fun
Not knowing they watched him with evil joy
From his youth he thought he was in control
Things came so easy and fast
Soon he moved beyond friend and peer
Emotions and thoughts kept under tight grasp
As he grew into a man it seemed
He had it pretty good
Health and love, a nice family
Things turned out just as he knew they would
That’s when they started to sneak into his thoughts
Taking note of his torment and fears
Knowing the dreams and desires inside
They lay in wait, in dark shadows they hide
From those shadows they reached out and touched him
Slowly draining his soul and strength
Unnoticed by his conscious mind
They did not worry to take their time
Sometimes they would breach through the wall
Causing his eyes to see
The consequence of the battle inside
Into the physical realm did they slide
The things that happened would cause him
To tighten the grip on his soul
Run, run, as fast as you can
But the battle was still too close
As he filled in with shadows and darkness
The sludge filling in every space
Years passed by as he went beyond sighs
‘Till he remembered not the way it had been
They carefully planned and waited
The attacks subtle and right on the mark
They wanted to take control of his life
By filling him up with inner strife
He found himself locked in a corner
Bound by deceit and lies from them
Filled with sadness, loneliness and dark melodies
That no one else can see
Weary he rests while the war rages on
Hiding from enemy's shots
In a foxhole he camped while they searched him out
He watched them laugh as they cast his lot
Decades passed as they lay in wait
Locked away from his open view
Emotions and feelings in a stranglehold trapped
Seething inside with them like boiling wax
The sludge bubbled and popped, spewing despair
The waves hit with relentless force
Confusion ran deep as he fought for a glimpse
Of truth and reality
Over the years, fed by their lies, incredible sadness advanced
Diligently stealing his hope and his joy
Replaced with solemn misery
Finding out they had stolen his years
At last, no more did he have any tears
© 2000 Tony Elliott
If you are interested in the full book, please contact me at
johomato@yahoo.com
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