Crash Poem by Rohit Ullal Rao

I have walked empty halls
Dragging my sore feet
I've spoken to blank walls
With no one to greet.

The prison is in my mind
The walls are in my heart
Both of which are unkind
And they tear me apart.

I am aware, I might fall
And I make a quick dash
But my efforts are small
I stagger and crash.

I try to stand on my feet
But there is nothing left
I feel like dead meat
Of all life bereft.

My body begins to ache
My lips garble sounds
I am asleep but awake
Not yet out of bounds.

The soul is willing
But the body is not
Ready for the killing
The minnow is caught.

And now it matters not
What happens from here
Though I know, I ought
To stand up and cheer.

I know I will stand
And find my feet again
Free my feet buried in sand
Enough of the pain.

Shaking my fists in anger
I put on my boots and dress
It is time to drain
The swamp of bitterness.

And so, there I stand
In the morning sun
And I understand
That I have only begun.