Untitled Poem by Erika Wingo

I am huddled way down within,
Inside of myself
Where only Myself and I exist
Still a scared, young girl
Who keeps to herself
Alone in the midst
Of such deep thoughts
And complicated feelings
Yet a naive child
I feel what she feels
So I came here
To console her for a while
Pretending to cope
Has become such a joke
I have a smile
That I make sure begins
Before the start of my pain
So all of life's misery
Doesn't drive me insane

Sorrow has reached so far beyond
My percieved limitations
Craving release
I break down and cry
I dress myself in my body armor
When it feels like my heart
Wants to give up and die
Misery is like a dense fog
All around me
It seems like I'm constantly
Running for shelter
Desperately searching for solace
That I can never find
Memories haunt me
Imprisoning my mind
Following me
Like a ghostly energy
Wrapping itself around me
Like a poisonous vine
Soaking wet with sorrow
Drenched in my own tears
The past begins tugging
At the corners of my mind
Tearing at what's left of me
A little at a time

An aura of uncertainty
Encircles me
Pulling me under
Where it's dark and cold
Lost among hopes and dreams
Abandoned and forgotten
Remembering the wonder
Of a future yet to unfold
The warmth of the promise
That life used to hold
Laughter is humorless
Happiness is meaningless
When your spirit is empty
And your soul's become hollow
The bittersweet pain
Is all that remains
From all of the pride
That I've had to swallow