The boy in the mirror

Growing up I had to obey,
laws were given and followed.
When broken, nightmares ensued,
fury unleashed, innocent flesh paid,

dues.

I crawl into midnight, break away,
feel pain, feel hate, feel ashamed.
To pray for the torture to stop,
seemed to fall on deaf ears over and over again,

forsaken.

I can't unravel the hold around my neck,
so tight the invisible noose, not well,
choking, gasping, where is the next breath?
life withdraws leaving me for a spell,

tears.

As they salt my skin, blue turns pink,
returning as the numb succumbs, tingley.
Flash bulbs fill my vision, no I am not famous,
light headed, footing unsure, why can I not break free,

flight.

Running through the woods of my memories,
the psyche is my only peace, outside.
this is where I play, where I stay,
away from an iron fist beating my every side,

reflection.

The boy in the mirror is not that man,
the man I am today changed from yesterday.
Yesterday I was weak, broken and afraid,
today I stand up, head held high, today,

free.

Liberated from the rage of misguided hate,
his problems will no longer affect this child.
Grown is the boy into more than he,
broken is his spirit, while mine is finally wild,

creation.