Drums

Tight skin

Pulled thin

From the constant beating of the drum.

My chest shakes and throbs

As the beating reverberates throughout,

Beat it lightly,

Tap it soft,

Nothing but a memory when alone.

A crowd grows near,

Full of expectations 

I am full of fear.

The pace quickens,

The beating grows louder:

Louder till’ my head begins to spin

Harder till my body shivers with each breath I take

With a fragile fear of being shattered.

I’m waiting for someone to loosen these binds

If someone like that exists,

For even those I love dearest

Gather in a circle and pull tighter.

It will pull tighter until it rips open and I shatter

With little hope of being put back together.

Each day, every moment

My body is overrun

With the beating of the drum

And it will continue to beat fast

Until I am alone.