In the Mirror

My words often echo
In the mind of a madman
He always looks me in the eye
He sees all my flaws
Lest I ever forget
He holds me in a place
From which I cannot escape
His words hold the venom
Of one thousand serpents’ fathers
They choke me until I cannot breathe
They stifle any positive word said
They break me into my most basic parts
Then scatter me to the wind
His piercing eyes carve my heart from my chest
And trample it in the dust
I cannot speak out against him
Nor can the tears vacate my eyes
He makes me breathe
A cursed breath
From which I gain no air
My broken lungs expand and contract to no avail
For I cannot defeat him
Without destroying myself.