A Riddle for the Daring

When all the joys are empty joys,
and all the dreams are hopeless ones.
When all my thoughts are listless thoughts
that kill those things for which I stand.
When all my tears are for lost shots,
at happiness, the great escape.
When all my words seem to fall on
the deafest of the deaf ears and minds
That is when I am at my best.
When the pain's so deep it bleeds,
my soul so dry it cracks and breaks.
When the knife is firmly planted in my back
and the slings and arrows are poised to kill me.
When the Hell is lit aflame and sears
my flesh with a burning pang of hate.
When the lies again bring tears to my eyes
and shake me at my very core,
That is when I may crack a smile...
For that is when I will be alive.