Darkest Hour

It is not only at night
when the dread thoughts
that rabbit- breed in your brain
emerge from their burrows.

Your darkest hour can occur
when light
is streaming in through the windows.

The sun is high in the sky
but you
are inexplicably low.

‘What right have you got
to feel this way
on such a lovely day?’
you ask yourself.

No answer.

But you have ways
of making yourself talk.

You shine
the big light in your face
and the interrogation begins.

First you try being Mr Nice Guy
but when that doesn’t work
out come the knuckledusters.

You look on
in horror
as you beat yourself up.

It’s torture.

You introduce the executioner
and watch him sharpen his blade.

Your head is on the block.

You really are giving yourself a hard time here
though even when threatened with a last breath
you still find you’ve got nothing to say.

Outside
it continues
to be a gorgeous day.