Crippled Warrior (Poem, 2005)

I AM A DRAINED AND CRIPPLED WARRIOR,

WITH NO HOPE OF A VALIANT SAVIOR,

A SCARED WARRIOR ALL MY LIFE,

ALWAYS BATTLING EMOTIONAL STRIFE.

DAY AFTER DAY I CONTINUE TO FIGHT,

I BATTLE MYSELF ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT,

I HAVE GLADLY LOST MY FEAR OF DEATH,

EVEN SEEKING TO TAKE MY LAST BREATH.

EVERY DAY BECOMES MORE BLACK,

I CAN NOT FIGHT MY WAY BACK,

I AM ON A DEAD-END ROAD,

CARRYING MY FESTERING, GUILTY LOAD.

A LIFETIME OF SHAMEFUL DEEDS,

I’M THE OFFSPRING OF PUTRID SEEDS,

NOW MY QUESTION IS NOT WHAT OR WHY,

BUT WHETHER OR NOT IT IS TIME TO DIE.

I HATE TO LEAVE MY DAUGHTER AND WIFE,

BUT DEPRESSION HAS ALREADY DESTROYED MY LIFE,

AND I AM TIRED OF ALL THIS MENTAL PAIN,

I AM TIRED OF PLAYING LIFE’S CRUEL GAME.

MY JOYS ALWAYS TURN PITIFULLY SAD,

MAKING DEATH LOOK NOT SO BAD,

IS NOT DEATH THE PLACE TO RUN,

WHEN LIFE IS STRANGLED AND DRAINED OF FU