Walking through my own mind is deadly
like accidentally ingesting cyanide
in the preachers kool aid.

Or maybe its just the tiger from my past,
still stalking the recesses of thought
and presents itself only in times
of my own weakness.

I **** the day I fell for your stripes
and became ensnared in your claws
raking at the depths of my souls and despair.

Its been over a year and the flesh still stings,
no matter how hard I try
to run and outlive the past
the mauling I received will never heal.