Inner Battle

Please for once do not judge -
Have you never felt confused?
Tortured with an inner grudge,
Shattered, beaten and bruised?

Yes, I am that perfect fool!
Clinging to my fragile world
Grabbing for any broken tool
My dreamboat sails, unfurled

In my fight against the storm
I am battered but breathing
Questioning the accepted norm,
When an easy path lies waiting.

Laying my cards on the table
Though realizing, I will die.
My values are non-negotiable,
Lift the chin, head held high.

Ignoring the burn open wound
Inhaling air gulp to revive
An escape plan when marooned
Into the scary depths, I dive.

Tiring struggle with fear-demon
Dolphin presented as a shark
Bit off clothes light human
World to my eyes became dark

Finally surfaced, with nothing left 
Not even a last shred of strife 
Carried by kind ocean, bereft 
Yet content, cherishing sunrise

Roshmi Bhaumik is a software engineer and lives with her family in Boulder, Colorado.