Waiting It Out (Poetry)

I’ve failed to keep a hold on grief
it smothers me — there’s no relief
its snake-like body grows and seems
to twist itself around my dreams

It squeezes tight and will not leave
the merest gap to let me breathe
and so I’m restless — fret and moan
no choice but fight the fiend alone

I trick my brain to change its track
think pleasant thoughts and won’t look back
imagine giving grief the slip
and sense it slowly lose its grip

I dash for freedom’s narrow chink
and almost make it — see it shrink
as grief lassoes me with its coils
to crush illusion till it spoils

I aim for balance — half and half
some time to cry and some to laugh
the days drift by the years stack up
I wait it out and trust to luck