Trauma

Jane Edberg © 2003

Trauma claims all energy,

and swallows it whole,

it sweeps up damage daily,

heaping it on the shoulders of sleep.

Guilt is a heathen,

splitting forgiveness with an ax,

hurling lies,

and spitting fiery ridicule.

Shame toils cunningly,

tying up the past with the present.

then runs rampant,

dragging a razor through your core.

Predatory grief creeps inside,

looking for something to steal.

it preaches despair,

as it watches dreams bleed.

Pain pounds out meaning.

pain strangles desire.

It relentlessly alerts us,

until we are stunned,

and frozen.