I pulled the head from my childhood toy
A bear once pastel, now grey - jaded
Picked at frayed stitches with tragic desperation, frantic, unhinged
Filled my mouth with stuffing
Choked on childhood innocence
Gasped for closure
Compact fluff forced down my throat
Fistfuls to dampen the raw keening
No nightlight to fend off the day's monster
Suffocated on pastel sweet hope
Cancerous shame, rotted brain
Slipped away with a discordant lullaby
And nylon strands wedged in my teeth