Doom Flower

The snake in the skull
hisses and sways
rearing from darkness undiscovered
I cringe at fears only time can allay
my five a.m. fool
tricked from sleep
by coil of writhing brain

This storm I spawn
slowly slithers in
feeding its evil
on my unraveling
I slice off the head
then watch it regrow
until reason's dull blade
lies blunt and stained
shredding hope
to fuel the dread
in a jagged mantle of tears

Old wounds are opened
scars unheal
fresh blood streams through pores
Standing cold shower naked
I gulp on madness
watching the movie
flicker fast forward
between my ears

Abandoned flesh
is all I've become
a shell so tainted
even the waiting wolves
choose misery of starving jaws
rather than choke
on my husk of hollow soul

Beyond the ragged roar of despair
stale spirit crushed
by aching badge of years
I feel the shudder of the world
One helpless haunted pause
for a small child lost
tasting its moment of awe
in stark revelation
before the serpent's
bitter triumphant return