Silent Desperation

The stage is set, it revolves continuously.
Maybe this platform has turned forever?
Darkness, with clouds scattered rigorously.
A musty light begins to feather.

A wasteland, filled with silent desperation,
The dwelling place of most every man.
On this journey of self-salvation,
We relentlessly seek to understand.

Here I stand, feet held fast,
Locked in an endless duel,
Wondering how long it will last—
Unprotected, feeling vulnerable.

My lungs are gasping and empty,
Sweat has long been broken.
Energy for tomorrow I have not plenty;
Defeat seems to present its token.

I wield my sword, time after time.
Forward progress seems out of reach.
Striking his blade, blow after blow—
To subdue him, I cannot beseech.

He is there, tall, distinguishably grim,
Black—no, maroon—a glint of silver.
Tattered clothes fall from his brim;
Any sane man would begin to quiver.

I latch to the deep whites of his eyes,
His face beneath the shadow of a kerchief.
Wearing a tattered kilt, woven from lies,
His bloodied boots do not bring relief.

Again I say, wielding my sword, time after time—
Forward progress seems out of reach.
Striking his blade, blow after blow—
To subdue him, I cannot beseech.

To win I must know my challenge;
The eyes aren’t enough—his face I desire.
One swift blow introduces a cringe—
A realization that burns hotter than fire.

It is me—there I am—a perfect likeness,
A man teetering under pressure.
My facial thoughts derive a mess;
This quarrel becomes no lesser.

Taller than the father of mountains,
Is the standard man holds himself to.
A strong courage our heart desires—
To share this burden, we know not with who.

Finally, as though coming into focus,
Silent desperation is the song of every man.
Identifying our soul would be to retrieve us;
Only convicting empathy will let ourselves in.

Here we see the battle that most men face, the fight to hold oneself to a standard that is unattainable and always out of reach. In this battle throughout life, men tend to stay in a state of silent desperation. Not until they realized they are fighting themselves will they begin to see a life outside of silent desperation. You are not alone.