STRESS

A throb inside stretches the skin
the red-black chrysalis within
threatens explosion, expulsion

from the white-hot coil inside the brain
spinning, tightening against the grain
Dissolving reason in tension -

a morose cocktail of poisonous thoughts,
from the inner pools where reason rots
fear invades, evades cohesion

Pure tenacity damps the fires,
tamps down to ashes the fanciful pyres
Smoldering drive survives torsion
until tomorrow

© 2004