Orpheus

By Shaunak Bakshi

I sat in silence, stunned

As my traitorous orchestra started creaking,

One broken instrument at a time

Each string twinging and breaking.

I placed on my chest a hand

Shivering, veiny and coarse,

And felt the pumping slow

Like a beautiful voice going hoarse.

I looked back one too many times

Always in denial, ever loathing,

That I could change the past

Forgetting that I was currently corroding.

Learning something from every mistake

But never moving on, all I do is mourn,

Forgiving, not forgetting

Decomposing inside, battle-worn.

I howled at the moon

As my node-filled voice shattered the glass dome,

The one surrounding my now-dying body

My defunct mortal form that no longer felt like home.

Maybe I turned around too early, too often

I think I let my present go,

The way poor Orpheus did

Letting fear win, his biggest foe.

By Shaunak Bakshi