The Pendulum

she swings from broken

to wrathful

tick to tock

cursing those who harmed her

her heart calcified rock

believing the sword

to be the better way

parry becomes plunge

strike and lunge

rejecting

victim identity

.

No longer petrified

but burning inside

fuelled on anger

Corroding, distorting,

erasing, contorting

what is purest

tock to tick

Vulnerability ablaze

a furious haze

justifying instead of crying

compassion quickly dying

.

Prey becomes hunter

red cape to wolf

tick to tock

Transforming fast

plunged into a world, vast

Her latest chapter

an inevitable disaster

Toxic potency of power

rendering her blind

whilst escaping

her prison clock tower

.

Leaving behind

her ability to see

true power was always

her empathy

She suffered too much

and it bore the blame

as she offloaded

her victim shame

Draining her precious energy

ever desperate for marriage

to boundaries

.

Confused and weary

She stumbled and fell

unable to keep giving

to those committing

abusive crimes

time after time.

After time,

after time.

Telling herself always

the lie of it’s fine

tock to tick

.

From broken spirit

she dreamed of new lands

and carved her sword

with shaky bare hands

A gift of steel

from the devil’s deal

Nothing asked in return

“Just go, have fun”

tick to tock

“The metal provides eternal

Freedom from the clock”

.

How she wanted to believe

this one who tricks

and deceives

But what comes free

should raise alarm

Especially from a being

who feeds on harm

tock to tick

But in desperation to escape

she gladly smiled

and took the blade

.

Now exactly like the other

Uncaring

and obsessed with power

Quick to swipe

Instead of reaching

For understanding, love

or higher teaching

Oh what a leader

She could have been

If not for the poison

drowning her bloodstream

.

No one to blame

It’s just the way

A game the devil loves to play

Unconscious minds

easy prey

And so the pendulum

continues to swing

Poison created from Victim

tick to tock, tock to tick

It’s how the world

became so sick