Unintentionally Aware

" Just as we are going to sleep, they are waking up for work. " ©️ Annebelle Ashire

Our demons play beneath the shadows,
and they echo in our laughter.
They're in the thick of our throat,
As they tell us, " You don't matter. "

They're waiting in the darkness of our humor.
Perfectly timed, carefully paved.
They are the unspoken rumor
we hear behind the smiling eyes we have depraved.

Listening to respond with obsoletes,
Effectively blocking our only view.
Our demons sleep on a clean linen sheet,
Fully dressed and ready to argue.

They have our memories,
and they have our names.
Taking advantage of extremities,
To explain the rules in their games.

Our demons live in the fine lines
of reality and fear.
Casually slipping out at times
to see what they can hear.

They are patient and unkempt
as they play quietly in our black and gray thoughts.
They are painfully content
as we fall to our knees when we have lost.

Our demons suggest traumatic stories
to keep our relationship solid.
They create the categories.
We pull our first card as they whisper,
"Your turn is invalid."

Author's Note

No matter these whispers, remember that we are in control of our demons.
They can only harm us if we reach for them.