Shadows

Even in the light the shadows come for me. The brighter the light the deeper they seem. Reaching out and sucking me dry. My soul shrivels, the rictus of a smile for the world to see.   It is the demons that haunt the shadows that give it its strength.  They have lived with me so long that the venom they spew is hardly noticed as it sinks into my skin.  When the sun shines and I ride high, it trips me up and pulls me down.  Suddenly the brightness dims and the gloom smothers me.  It becomes harder to draw breath, they sit on my chest and cackle, those creatures of the dark.  I slide down the shadows to the dark places inside of me.  The deepest night engulfs me, the shadows have become claws to rake my tortured soul.  I need to learn their ancient names, to gain power over them, to exorcise them and be set free.  Why is it so easy to be brought low?