what do you do when...

the edge is being pushed hard
a swollen dam shows its cracks
a river surges to the sandbags
that must never break banks
for boundaries were set  
in solidarity's cement

and the grey matter burns
in uniformed words- stretched
seeing the assailant's oratory
preaching from the podium
in a soliloquy of conceit

you stare at the frames-
pictures sharp recycle
as you smell the lies
that 'you'll breathe
your very last
if you tell'

but how do you defy
you forgot how to cry
you were barely fifteen

what do you do when...

he stands tall, pulls rank
signs off on your life

some days cramp cold-
while seconds drag past
when the faces around you
greet the beast with their smile
and you alone see way beyond
society's accolades, gold medals
may glint, but pull off those tags
to the masked deeds he hides

and the burden remains
compressing your chest
as his body had pressed
bursting into your door
as your broken self fell
to choke as you tore
in his crushing roar

silenced across
the boss's desk
as your candle
flame smokes
as the fissured
walls break

unseen...