The Watch
by Michael R. Burch

Moonlight spills
down vacant sills,
illuminates an empty bed.

Dreams lie in crates.
One hand creates
wan silver circles, left unread

by its companion—unmoved now
by anything that lies ahead.

I watch the minutes
test the limits
of ornamental movement here,

where once another
hand would hover.
Each circuit—incomplete. So dear,

so precious, so precise, the touch
of hands that wait, yet ask so much.

Published by The Lyric, Carnelian, Net Poetry and Art Competition, Poetry on Demand, Famous Poets and Poems,  ImageNation (UK). Keywords/Tags: watch, hands, watching, time, movement, circles, cycles, circuits, minutes, limits, wait, waiting, death, incomplete, reunion, companion, ahead, night, bed, moonlight, crates

I don't want to do anything
.
.
.
Because I can't see
Past the trees
That stand in my way

It's too dark
They're too tall
And everything looks the same

I'm going round in circles
And everyone keeps telling me it's worth it
I'm going round in circles
And I still don't believe it

I'm going round in circles
Nothing is changing
Everything is spinning
And it's still hurting

I'm going round in circles
I just wanna go straight
So I see the light in the tunnel
And I go towards it

I'm going round in circles
.
I just want to get somewhere
.
But I'm a little dizzy
.
So, instead, I'll just stay here
.
.
.

My mind is racing in circles again.
It will go on and on and on.
Every minute.
Ever hour.
Every single ******* day.
It feels like pain is the only way to break the circle.
Cause for a moment I will feel something.
For a moment I will feel whole…fine.
But only for a moment. Then all I feel is shame.
All I feel is the overwhelming fear of people finding out.
But I'm so tired of hiding all the time.
Tired of hiding the truth.
Tired of pretending to be fine.
Someone is controlling my brain.
Someone is placing these horrifying thoughts and images in my mind.
What's wrong with me.
What am I doing?
It feels like I'm trapped.
Trapped in this mess.
My mess.
I made it.
I gave it fuel.
But it's so exhausting waking up to the same numbness… the same pain every day.
My hero where are you? I think I need saving.