Witches

Bouncing between lonely and content.
Between constant mediocrity and lament.
The days I can fill with tasks and things.
But I can’t control what the night brings.

I can’t protect myself from the weavers' tale.
I fear my heart won’t balance the scale.
My punishment lies in the tiny death.
Feverishly washing, as a bloodied Macbeth.

Three witches join me in my dreams.
Darkness, Doubt, and Paranoia it seems.
My constant soothsayers for far too many a night.
I fear that not walking with them would be impolite.

They speak of my failures, not small in amount.
Successes dismissed because they do not count.
They speak of the comfort emptiness can bring.
They say hope is a fickle mistress, an unworthy thing.

They bring you to the mirror on the wall.
To show you who is not the fairest of them all.
Your chest begins to fade as you stare in disbelief.
At a broken, battered, bleeding heart: full of grief.

Paranoia speaks and says “It will never heal.”
Doubt shouts “Maybe it’s best to never feel.”.
From off to the side, a whisper from Darkness in your ear.
“It doesn’t have to be this way…”, as he slides you a spear.

You can pierce it, he says, that’s all it will take.
“Do it…”, he calmly states, “..end the ache..”
“The pain from the slings and arrows of fortune can be made to cease…”
“Without something for them to corrupt, you could finally be at peace…”

You pause and take stock of the trios prose.
You could put it out of its pain, maybe even enclose.
But what is the cost you wonder?
Is it really best to rip it asunder?

If in removing it do you remove your core?
Do you become something you abhor?
Do you trade nights of blissful, restful sleep
If it means your heart and soul you cannot keep?

You look at the trio, one by one.
“It appears my steadfast companions, we are done.”
“Rest assured that when darkness reappears.”
“You three will join me, and I’ll attend, once more with open ears.”

“For tonight I am content, to wander endlessly, with you by my side”
“As each night you give me one more chance to decide.”
“I’ll close my eyes knowing I’ll see you three.”
“At least if I get no rest…neither will thee.”