The chained ankles
are heavy and aching
with ****** bruises

The chained ankles
would rather break free

I write so not to
suffocate on my
smoky thoughts

I write so not to
forget that I, too,
have a voice that
won’t be silenced

I write so not to
use the knife
as an outlet

I write so not to
choke on the thorny words
that linger in my throat

I write so not to
be hushed by my—
inner demons
—sweet seductress

I write so not to
burn alone in
my own inferno

I write so not to
die

I'm in an endless cycle of hating life
and then absolutely loving it.
I feel nothing
when I just want to feel something. anything.
and then I feel everything
when I can't handle anything.
intense emotions pound on my heart
until I feel like I might break.
everything I feel and think
is gone the next minute
and replaced with something different.
during my lows, I feel like I may die.
during my highs, I feel drunk on love and wonder.
it's a constant cycle of love and hate,
and I'm not sure if I should love it
or if I should hate it.