Jessica L. Morris

What’s most 
     terrifying 
          haunting 
               unbearable 
considering 
     the darkest 
          seasons 
               of life? 

The loneliness 
     desperation
          injustice 
               evil? 
The absent ones 
     arrogance 
          viciousness
               of others? 

Or, 
when I go there now 
with eyes wide open 
is it the 
me 
that 
I see – 
she who 
     embraced the madness 
          relied on the lies 
               remained 
                    chained in the dungeon of self? 

Only a 
thoroughly honest answer 
will set us free 

so let us pause now 
and truly look 
before we say another thing.