Monster At My Back (Poetry)

It’s there — breathing close
jaws already wide
eager to devour
no pity applied
no escape — I’ve tried

outrunning the dark
but demons cling tight
however I squirm
or grab for the light
I feel his sly bite

Those lessons in pain
that rip life apart
repeated again
in case I should start
once more to take heart

He feeds on despair
and grows with each feast
now hope’s short supply’s
been fouled by this beast
resistance has ceased

My shoulder aches sore
each kiss a hot coal
burns sorrow red raw
his ultimate goal
to swallow me whole