Dark Corners

Like the roar of thunder

Surging across the dark night sky

My insecurities are raging

And I’m not really sure why

Like the sea,

So vast & deep

All the vulnerabilities in my heart

That I always seem to keep

Conversations in my head

Playing over and over

It’s these very thoughts I dread

I try to forget, I try to let go

Of these flaws & imperfections

That I don’t care to show

Feeling exposed, so raw & bare

Anxiety so strong, worn as pieces of flair

My thoughts are fleeting

& my feelings, too

I try to find the words

To explain this all to you

I don’t want to fan the flames

Or mess with the fire and get burned

Serenity & peace of mind

Are the things for which I yearn

Sometimes the best way to say something

Is to simply say nothing at all

Yet over and over again

Like London bridge, I fall

Thanks to the self-talk

In the most dangerous place,

my mind

Even though to myself, I know I must always try to be kind

It could be one small setback

That I perceive as a total fail

This constant judgment of myself

Is merciless to no avail

I’m stuck & paralyzed

By unnecessary fear

At this rate, I’ll run out of fuel

Before I even put the car in gear

But even through the darkest night

The sun always comes at dawn

I’ll find a way to muster the strength

And conquer my mind with brawn

Although I feel like I’m being buried

With impending doom

I know I’m just a seed that has been planted

& like a beautiful flower, I’ll bloom

Facing upward toward the sun

Teardrops from my green eyes,

I’ll intentionally let them run

An imperfect mixture of water & light

Through self-love & acceptance,

I’ll continue to fight

& like a soldier coming home from war

Wounded in the battle, but still honored with a star

I’ll bare my scars

For these are imperfections, too

I’ll put myself back together

& I’ll use them as the glue

Pieced back together

With the fault lines exposed

I know this is the only way

That I will flourish & grow

-a.c.