Stolen Away

As a child I felt free,
My life was a magical box.
Now as an adult I feel trapped in the backseat,
Entombed by these child locks.

Take me back to playing with friends,
When my mind was full of imagination.
As an adult this playtime always ends,
With my thoughts in permanent anticipation.

I was like a firework soaring through the sky,
Before you stole my spark.
Stealing away all lights in the street,
As you leave my world so dark.

So many things I wanted to do and see,
Before you replaced enjoyment with despondency.

My imaginary friends now replaced with demons,
Thoughts now controlled by anxiety.
Obsessions now telling me they are scheming,
My inner child now cries silently.

I was your dog,
You were my leash
You decided when it was time to go walking.
I was your puppet,
You stole my words
Because you’re the one doing the talking.

You alter my perception,
I obsess over things left unsaid.
Every day is full of deception.
You are the only voice inside my head.

There’s no trick or magic potion,
No spell or secret recipe,
No magical drug or surgery,
To remove the umbilical cord from Anxiety.

It’s now a dark playground inside my head.
With empty swings, and feelings of dread.
You’ve stolen away my sanity and speech,
So, I use poetry instead.

- A collaboration between Andrew Horner and aperpetratorwithaquill