Forest of hate

Deep in the heart of the forest of hate, I wake

the trees feel like they are closing in, claustrophobia choking, feel off beat

a winding pathway through, scattered with twigs to scratch my feet

as the trees get nearer can feel them in my face, fill me with heartache

Ground wet with the sludge of a million rainfalls

sodden, it holds me in place, the vines and branches grip my arms

they pierce my skin, cut deep within, slashing, trying to cause harm

the ground so wet, from a billion tear falls

The screeching sounds cut through the air, a wail, shrill, I'm scared

they attack my head, from all sides, damage my senses

cant think straight, left defenceless

the undergrowth climbs around me, left gagged and impaired

All around the trees sway, hovering over me, blocking out the light

crowding me out, pushing me down, into the dirt, in the root filled ground

words wont come out, cant scream out, can barely make a sound

so many surround, cant get out, but cannot fight

This forest so full of menace, should I just embrace?

this jungle of people, all rooted in place

surrounding, their gazes penetrating

they hold me down our limbs entangling

The wooded pathway, as scary as any cemetery

its hold over me so strong, need to return

to beat this fear, this cold dried tear, need to be reborn

and escape my self imposed solitary

Thanks for reading,

Kyle.

Artwork  ©Dianne Coare