Intrusive Thoughts

Sometimes some thoughts cripple me-

What if everything goes away?

What if all I have becomes unfree?

And what if I’ll have nothing to pay?

The time of doom scares me;

I know these thoughts are my mind’s mere apprehensions,

But what if all is taken away from me?

I feel anxious by all these futile comprehensions.

The edge of the ridge feels frightening;

If I am pushed from it, then what’ll be left of me?

All these faulty visions feel threatening,

They’re grabbing away my peace from me.

If only I could sneak away

Alone into my dreamland,

Where I’d only see the brightest of days,

I’d surely give anything up to stay in that wonderland.

My dreams serve as my abodes, untouched,

Filled with so much fresh air to breathe;

But from dreams, we always wake up unbesmirched,

And must face reality with our own sheath.

Well, maybe the doom will never befall,

And maybe I’ll never sneak away;

But my wish is that I’ll always stand tall,

Despite whatever might come my way.

-Jaanvi Veluguleti

Perennial Poetry