the enemy

is far away, and closer than a heartbeat is near, but pauses. on breath, shallow, more shallow blue faced now grip tighter to an arm falling loosely, a hidden glower take that as a friendly reminder a hint suggested; could mean anything. trot, walk, run till breath is deep, too deep got into the brains - skin pricks an alarm, a hush, silence deeper than breath. don't stop, as a reminder is taken as something else. a threat, a shudder: raise an army! don't stop, prodding. an apple dangles, a hunter sets a trap, hunts a hunter. of glamor, of starry night, of bedtime stories with tall trolls casting tiny shadows. looms large again when darkness disperses, a cudgel breaks the silence of held breaths no longer deep. deep thoughts, deep feelings scatter like rain peltering along a pavement cracked open, water flowing smoothly through, bends effortlessly into curve balls no longer unexpected. ponder no more, stale tales fade away like rain evaporating with heat; the mind sizzles, like a flame finding dried branches feast on twisted notions, twisted rivulets, bends easily. grows, extends, reaches out to touch solid walls. that do not break, solid phantoms that do not cringe with close inspection: they snarl back at being found on this recesses, left uncovered, exposed as glamor fades to hunger, starry nights become fallen night with bedtime stories ending ... ... they're mighty trolls now like gods, idols turned from fantasy, solid walls impenetrable. don't fight back, shadows, fallen stars lighting up - ponder this. thick veiny roots ingesting the heart, while the frosty window is covered in white: no longer able to see out, the clangs, the noise, the many voices reduced to one coiled serpent fat from a life of being fed voluntarily. more, more twisted truths, a faded dream and fallen stars dashed to earth -