The Devil’s Courthouse

The devil’s lips

Curled up in a snarl

Baring teeth at me

In his court 

Balancing hind legged 

on black hooves

Gesticulating..

Laughing. 

At me,

Me!

How fitting.

Will I ever stop hiding

Can I?

I put myself out there and I..

I start down low

The loneliness

Slowly rising until I’m choking

Gasping, grasping

at anything within reach..

Clawing my way back

To that. 

To the thing before

Before this got weird. 

Eyes averted

Eyes wide 

and before you know it

They’re gone

Running

Have you been limiting yourself?

Don’t do that.

Why do you demand

That people see you all the time?!

Stop punishing everyone 

For it 

For trying

Don’t mouth off and then contemplate.