Creature Speak

Is everything crumbling around me, 
or is this merely my fear? 
Why do I feel at any moment
all things could disappear?

I endeavor to hold onto
that which I care about. 
But every day I seem to wake
with great mountains of doubt.

As if I climb a steep incline 
with legs too week to stand. 
As if I run but every step 
I sink further in quicksand.

As if l reach for dreams-come-true 
too far for my arms. 
As if security I seek is but 
a harbinger of harm.

As if I am to protect myself 
without a proper shield. 
As if I search for the ocean 
in a dry eternal field.

As if I’m keeping precious jewels 
dissolving into dust. 
As if I clean titanium doors
only for them to rust.

As if I had a safe fortress 
to gather all I love, 
then the refuge was destroyed
by lightning from above.

As if the gods have cast me out 
of heaven for my crimes. 
As if my shame is too grave for you 
to look me in the eyes.

As if I'm cursed to wander 
the badlands for all my days, 
with relics of my failures scattered 
across the endless planes.

As if my thirst is older than 
the dawn of all the realms, 
and there is no such thing as water 
for cracked lips to be quelled.

As if I look for you across 
great chasms and divides, 
but I am cursed to always search 
for what I shall never find. 

As if my heart did know you 
the moment I saw your face, 
just in time to be exiled 
and vanish from this place.

I thought I could stay here 
if I could love you enough. 
But Lady Fate had other plans 
for what to make of love.

She never meant to allow me
to incarnate this much. 
So I am made a fleeting breath 
to pass through my lover's lungs.

As I become a whisper, 
I pray you’ll hear my voice. 
Be careful of what you create 
with the power of your choice.

Now I know we only
have so long to decide
I’ll make it if you choose to take me 
where you go next time.

Copyright © Sheyorah Naify, 2021