Consumed

CONSUMED

by Cathy Oddie

The depression is gnawing at my brain,

Like a dog chewing on a bone.

I feel utterly consumed by it.

Bite-sized chunks are being taken from my psyche,

Like my soul is being ripped to pieces.

A menu of all my past failures being presented to me,

No choice of ordering ala carte, just a nightmarish yum cha session,

Where the dumplings are filled with my worst memories,

And are pushed past me in a never ending procession.

I am being force-fed a smorgasbord of pain,

Where’s the exit? I need to escape this macabre hell-scape.

Waiter, can I have the bill?

No, I won’t be leaving a tip