Tight skin
Pulled thin
From the constant beating of the drum.
My chest shakes and throbs
As the beating reverberates throughout,
Beat it lightly,
Tap it soft,
Nothing but a memory when alone.
A crowd grows near,
Full of expectations
I am full of fear.
The pace quickens,
The beating grows louder:
Louder till’ my head begins to spin
Harder till my body shivers with each breath I take
With a fragile fear of being shattered.
I’m waiting for someone to loosen these binds
If someone like that exists,
For even those I love dearest
Gather in a circle and pull tighter.
It will pull tighter until it rips open and I shatter
With little hope of being put back together.
Each day, every moment
My body is overrun
With the beating of the drum
And it will continue to beat fast
Until I am alone.