Andrew Durbin

Insanity

In my mind, when deep I’m dreaming,

With my nightmares, dark and screaming,

And the horrors that are teeming

All throughout the madness there.

Vexing thoughts in my perceiving,

Speaking lies and vast deceiving,

Keeping me forlorn and grieving,

As my soul they want to tear.

Here I cannot force my waking,

With my soul profoundly aching.

My defenses set to shaking

As I try to stand my ground.

Evil things that crawl and slither

Whispering to bear me thither,

That my mind might shrink and wither

As in hopelessness I drowned.

Blackened creatures that are winging

On the foul and dank air, bringing

My hands up to begin wringing

As they fly through shadowed halls.

As I turn to watch them scatter,

Hearing screeching as they chatter,

There I see a red bespatter,

For there’s blood upon the walls.

My eyes open wide, dismaying

As my broken nerves are fraying

And insanity is weighing

Heavy on my fractured mind.

My mouth opens wide and gaping,

Screams and shrieks from me escaping,

As the dark descends, thus draping

Me in blackness undefined.

In my bed, I sit up sweating,

What I have seen is upsetting,

But my memories aren’t letting

Me discover what is real.

At the window now I’m sitting

As my broken mind is splitting

And I write this tale, unwitting

To believe my soul will heal.