Know Thy Enemy...

For years I have fought, and fought alone,
but despair has consumed me to the bone.

My dreams were great, but despair was greater,
my own heart branded me as a traitor.

Most of my life, I was akin to sadness,
lonely whispers echo into madness.

But amidst the chaos, I saw a boy,
who seemed to be enveloped in joy.

His smile warmed my fragile heart,
and made my dark clouds slowly depart.

A tear of happiness rolled from my cheek,
I beckoned the boy, but I could not speak.

A barrier kept me from interacting,
my joyful smile began retracting.

I was only able to quietly observe,
silently I steadily began to unnerve.

I looked closer at him, he then looked back...
and I saw that his eyes were totally black.

His face was overtaken by a sinister grin,
I then saw the darkness, swirling from within.

An aura of obscurity consumed the child,
seemingly his purity, has been defiled.

His face was distorted, but I was able to see,
that the boy was a young manifestation of me.

The innocence before consumed by despair,
warped and twisted into this nightmare.

This ragged shell is all that is left,
after misery's ruthless theft.

The image haunts and mocks me so,
tainting all goodness I've come to know.

But of course, I am to blame...
I've fallen to the sorrow that has no name.

I've tried to break free, but to my great shame..
Me and my enemy are one in the same.