hair
on edge

stretching
claws

to hours
itching

every thought

will strain
my will

the baleful

cruelty

of time

I cannot
face

tomorrow
stings

stare me
down

all these things

there's no
tomorrow

imagining me

in it

any more

hunger
sleep

come thirst
unfed

empty
still I

shake in bed

(If I
can sleep)

they come and

sweat me in

my dreams

and it
might be

worse a
crash

harder
than

a hammered lash

worse
then than

the demons

I know from this

abyss