Survival

The music of innocence 

Hushed and turned to silence

And out of sheer terror, 

I screamed.

I launched campaigns

Of hatred and rage

Against everyone who loved me.

Everything was an affront

To all that was sacred—

Which was nothing, or nothingness.

I couldn’t see or feel or touch

Without it being a mortal sin.

It seemed the only act of grace 

I could commit

Was committing suicide.

I declared existence 

To be nothing more 

Than a lie.

But I was kept alive

And if not shown the truth,

I was shown enough of it

To survive.