Half a decade later,
and it surfaces at last.

That coupled with the losing,
Was a partner just as crass.

I must not throw into the sea
what washes up to shore.

That fear that I won't feel again,
the way I felt before.

A: This tastes like crap.

B: You've eaten crap?

A: ...

A: Tasted.

What once was fire in your eyes,
is smoldering,
about to die.

What once was fire in your veins,
is spilling out,
it slowly wanes.

Lost in a fog,
Drained of your blood,
Spine feeling soft,
Face in the mud.

Now fan the embers in your eyes,
consume what's left,
by fire baptize.

Move the magnet from your compass
when you want to know the way.
Slay the snake inside your stomach,
it hunts truth, its only prey.

Throw a stone at self-deception
though the mirrors in your hall.
Can you feel it, breathing slowly?
None but pride before the fall.

Planned departer, back-up martyr,
More required, less inspired,
Sparse support 'till last resort,
Strong aversion, faint exertion.

In the waiting 'til you're cornered,
you have foundered at the start.
Since not searching for the needy
shows you lack the hero's heart.

Bruised and ******,
arms restrained
this criminal correctly blamed
for trying to release another.

Who not a friend
nor a brother
but thought it wrong
to just let suffer.
So together
in a cage
held conviction,
suppressed rage,

And whispered words
in hopes to capture
a nudging deep within the captor.
Unconvinced
but dismayed,
their guardian then proclaimed,
"when dogs are slaves,
you've no regrets,
yet misbehave
when men are
pets?"