As hollow dread overtakes dawn –

I am imprisoned in my bed.

Sleeplessness of despair –

a bird that cannot fly.

Weighted down by wetted feathers of indecision,

daylight falters.

Darkness remains the dictator of the hour,

commanding black clouds.

Pain tells my story, oh so well!

Screaming alarm calls my name,

 it is for naught!

Chained to my fears by an affliction that will not cease.

It is only the beginning,

yet I want this day to end.

To fly my nest

 and soar beyond imagination once more.

Ann Christine Tabaka

Ann Christine Tabaka was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize in Poetry, has been internationally published, and won poetry awards from numerous publications. She is the author of 9 poetry books. She has recently been published in several micro-fiction anthologies and short story publications. Christine lives in Delaware, USA. She loves gardening and cooking. Chris lives with her husband and three cats. Her most recent credits are: Burningword Literary Journal; Muddy River Poetry Review; The Write Connection; Ethos Literary Journal, North of Oxford, Pomona Valley Review, Page & Spine, West Texas Literary Review, The Hungry Chimera, Sheila-Na-Gig, Foliate Oak Review, Better Than Starbucks!, The Write Launch, The Stray Branch, The McKinley Review, Fourth & Sycamore. Website: https://annchristinetabaka.com