Worn Down (Despair)

She has no cause for laughter,
can find no time to cry.
It's getting hard to live now;
harder than it is to die.

Full of empty promises,
no will left to survive.
Sleep comes around at waking time,
leaves when it should arrive.

Whiskey laced Arabian
brings 'normal' into play.
Plastic smiles and kisses
send the school bus on its way.

Laundry done and folded
on the table, by the hall.
Don't air the dirty washing;
faded pride before the fall!

She keeps the fire burning,
as anger fuels the flame;
keeps imposing Sadness out,
can't let him spoil the game.

She notices her finger
strangely bare, no ring there now,
it paid for last night's supper;
It's hard to eat a vow.

She takes notes from her apron,
she cries, thinks, 'they’re so young...'
It's hard to say 'I love you'
around the barrel on her tongue.

By Chris Birrane © 2011