Style and Rhythm: I Died Before Now

When you break down the door
And find my body on the floor,
Shed no tears for I did that for months
With no one to comfort me.

As each day horrifically crept away,
A part of my soul did the same
Over time, it became ritual
Till I ran out of the will to keep up the fight.

Life came at me fast
I had huge expectations;
Of life, of love
Of ‘ships’ that did not sail
My dreams
What shocking reality checks.

Sinking deep and deeper
Into a bottomless gulf
I reached out
I did not find an arm
None to pull me out of the life-imposed state
None caught me
I gave in
I gave up.

Now you’re here, holding my note
Tears welling up in your eyes
Wondering how it came to this
Remembering my smiling face
No, my ‘cover up’ bright self.

I died before now
I died before now!!!
You did not notice
Perhaps you needed the physical manifestation.
Now you have it!
And it’s hitting you hard!!!

Poem by Olufolake Zion