Michelle Pine

The Shade

Happiness floats through the air
all around
but does not penetrate

Anguish
embedded in the brain
there is nothing to extricate this
only to blanket

helping to forget
the demon
at the back

but in the peripheral view
it's still there
a patient stalker

waiting for the slip
guard to drop
armor to fall

slithering back in
clouding the thoughts
with its black despair.