Giving In Poem by Dan Ochs

Softly first I hear you calling
Building with intensity
Try to keep myself from falling
Taking everything from me

Smother you with all my hatred
Taking all the breath you breathe
Itching like an ugly scab
Begging me to rip and bleed

Can’t you leave me to peace? No one deserves this grief.
Why do you rip my heart from my chest? Please just leave my soul to rest.

You promise comfort and solace
Selling heartache and pain
Your gold is for fools
No profit to gain

A serpent in sheep’s clothing
Tempts with water in deserts heat
Strip me from all I’m holding
Beat me till all I feel is defeat

Can’t you see I need this peace? I want no part of this grief.
I’ll hold my heart, two hands on my chest. Please just leave my soul to rest.

You took my friend in your cold hand
I want him to come back to me
Your grip is tight, he sinks in sand
I continue to call out to thee

'You can’t continue on this way'
I try to warn him of the danger
He says it is the last day
My concern turning quick to anger

Can’t you leave us both to peace? We don’t deserve all this grief.
Leave our hearts within our chests. Why can’t you lay our souls to rest?

Take the pill you dumb a**hole
Say it is the only way
Take the ticket, pay the toll
Stop trying to save dignity

Told me that you found a balance
Gone and f***ed it up again
See you teeter on the edge
A demon is your only friend

Maybe you don’t want this peace. Maybe you enjoy the grief.
Was there ever a heart in your chest? To late now to take the test.

My throat is raw screaming in your ear
Is anything getting in?
I cannot save you from yourself
A devil in your skin

Tried to help you through it all
To help you see things clearer
Wasted breath, on a weathered wall
But the wall is just a mirror…

The wall is just a mirror…