Like a shadow in my body,
It lurks at the back of my chest
Behind my beating heart,
Keeping time with its pulses,
And keeping track of the beats.
It traces its chilling fingers along my ribs,
Sending wasps stabbing at my lungs.

My Demon is ever present
Resting just behind my eyes
Waiting to let the faucet leak
And send out a screeching cry.

My Demon keeps a hand over my mouth
Not letting all my thoughts slip.
So I wont warn others
That it most certainly does exist.

Like a shadow it stands by my side,
Not quite apart of me,
Yet not entirely separate.
-ALC August 15, 2017