Ophidian Henosis, Pt. II-Barshasketh

Crawling through the clawing, sucking mire of defeat Ever upward, ascending to unattainable heights Towards the self I see it at the apex - triumphant and calm With every pace, I slip back two more But still I climb with aching muscles. Below, the gloom is warmed by the dazzling fires of apathy And the masses pass me by, fleeing the self on shambling limbs Descending towards the lights Their faces merged into a rictus of vacant, asinine contentedness. And I'm tempted to join them I confess in moments of weakness and despair, I've let myself slip back, towards the warmth Some stop to converse, but their tongue is as alien to me as the screeching of the crow They are politely oblivious to the bloodied, soiled carcass That I drag behind me with a taut golden line Yet still they leave gladdened, ever towards the lights And I continue upward My dragging body becomes heavy as the detritus builds up If only I had the will to severe that golden cable, to float at ease toward the self But I lack the courage That is my burden.