I feel the burning of my skin from the endless scorching of the sun,

The chilled air that arrives with the moon that burns my lungs with every breath,

The blotches of my feet I lose with every run,

When I creep and slither to catch a chance to feed.

 

As I lay on this island remembering the mundane ways of a life,

My vision blurs and my body quakes for the simple pleasures that I once took for granted,

I rise and scream to the heavens begging for the answer of this hopeless condemnation,

I scream until my voice is stolen, and along with it my hope.

 

No, no, I cannot give in. I will not end this way.

If there is a hell, I am already in it and will have no other debt to pay.

 

For endless days and nights I construct my Noah’s ark,

The only fear I hold is the fear of fear itself,

 I yearn to grab hold of that guardian’s hand that will lead me to the gates of heaven.

 

I sail for days and nights in an endless pit of blue,

And just as I reach the point of no return, I see that guardian’s hand raised out to me,

The deafening sound of the guardian’s wings are the last thing I hear before I fall into a pit of black.

 

Rays of yellow light burn my eyes and a moment passes before the blurry world becomes clear,

I glance around and find that I am safe and sound, was it all in my head?

No, it is true, the past is as clear as the scars that cloak my body,

I lived through hell and escaped back to heaven.

 

Those dreadful times I fought for life have changed my life for good,

All the things I used to love have no more meaning or value,

 My favorite shoes or favorite book were not there to aid me,

The only thing I had to survive was the air in my lungs and the muscles beneath

my skin that begged me to keep going.

 

All the things I needed before I no longer want anymore,

And I now enjoy the little things I used to hate before.

 

The only thing I needed then is the only thing I need now,

The will to keep living, God’s most precious gift, is the one thing I will never give up.