Wretch Poem by Nathan Killeen

Burning rain
Falls down on me
Sears away my flesh
Pain uncountable
Then, nothing.
For I have become Nothing
Unfettered from my self
I have no need to worry
For neither fire nor sword can hurt me
But now I’m torn by something new
Neither Angel nor demon
I tear myself to ribbons
Fear
Fear and pain
These are all that remain
I lie,
Fear, pain, are both true
But love surrounds me too.
And this adds to my torment.
I know I cannot grasp or hold it,
So fallen from my peak I twice am damned.
Loathed and loathing,
Hatred and love are they not one and the same?
Emotion is pain and pain is emotion.