Carrion

A crease is forming 

The wrinkles on my brain exploding beneath my skin

As my brain 

Tick

Tick

Ticks away 

Staring in the mirror 

The eyes I used to know 

Now dull brown circles encased in gray moons greet me 

As they 

Fade

Fade

Fade away 

Who is this woman 

The face I am greeted with in the mirror 

The sharp contours 

The angular nose

The mouth always… downturned. 

Where is the girl I was familiar with

The round cheeks

The smiling in the eyes

The glistening light that 

Shimmered 

As she laughed 

Radiant joy 

Startling sadness 

where did I go?

Did I waste away in my bed I made myself?

Or 

Did I let the opinions pick and peck away at me like vultures 

I am the carrion on the road 

I am the deer that survived the headlights 

Though my body is broken 

My spirit is tired

My eyes are now dull

My hands are weak 

My chest is tight 

My legs, my will is broken 

My stubborn will to live is there, beneath the surface of my membrane 

I will rise again

I will claw my way from my grave 

I will crawl to my life

I will rise again.