What am I holding on to?
What hope does cling like tar
Unclean, melting onto my form
Allowing impurity to stick
Feathers of the mocking bird
Grit from the impassible route
Stuck, forever like scars
Am I clinging on?
Or does it cling to me.
What am I holding on to
What hope does cling to me
Down, collapsing to one knee
My heavy head hangs on a tired neck
Eyes closed, forced so, expression
The groan escaping my lips too quiet
I wish the world to taste my despair
To understand my failure
But still I cling, Rising once more
Because I want to or because I must?
What am I holding on to?
What hope does cling to me?
Held aloft and high regardless
Of the taunts, the advice
The good natured persuasions
Release it, let it go, fly free as a bird
Why not a kite? High, free, held?
Let me fly? As a kite? Still trapped
Still clinging, and clung to
To what? By what?
What am I holding on to?
What hope does cling to me?
A viscious dog on a short lead?
Only I can feel her bite
Sinking through flesh
Tearing through muscle
Clinging not for safety
But in anger, frustration
To destroy me for her freedom
As I cling to save the others?
Or purely for my own assurance?
Clinging because I should?
Dying because I daren't let go?
Because I shouldn't let go?
What am I holding on to?
What hope does cling to me?
A helium balloon tied to my wrist?
Floating delicately above my head
Swaying upon less delicate winds
Protected and guided by my movements
Watched by those who would destroy it
For fun, pleasure, sport
And so I cling
As it clings?
What am I holding on to?
What hope does cling to me?
What truth would make me let go
Of that I hold so desperately?