Unforgiven

There's nothing to fall back on, 
There's nothing to hold on to. 
No signs to hide behind, no masks to wear. 

There's no familiar pattern, 
There's no acknowledged content. 
The nerves are eaten raw, blood vessels tear. 

Each breath - inhaling fire, 
Each movement - on a tightrope, 
The demons burst for blood at every turn. 

To heights the flames aspire, 
One error - and it's over, 
And then is reached the point of no return.

Each moment - absolute, and 
Completely unforgiving: 
And in it is the gone and yet to be. 

Each step - is convoluted, 
Each word - is a deceiving: 
Wherever to turn? How ever to get free? 

Each step - stung by a serpent, 
Each movement - on a tightrope, 
And all wants pieces and then wants to kill. 

And yet through all this torment 
As though once drawn and quartered 
Blooms this: the very essence of man's will. 

So let's be unforgiven 
And thus be with each other 
At every level, outside and within. 

This vanquishes deceiving 
And takes away its brother, 
The fear - and then the true life can begin.