In the echoing sadness around me
voids grow wider
deflating more hearts
less hopeful, by the second

it's not the life I dreamt of
in the blackness of my childhood nights
the future glimmering before me - I was sure
a shining thing;

I could only imagine vibrant beauty,
abundance
possibilities for stunning joy
but

there are things outlined in the mist
vast and terrible
not foreseen
my innocent thoughts danced elsewhere

the only things I hoped for
have been stomped
to dust
by the villainous reality