Escapism
by Sam M. Phillips

It’s freezing,
I’m seizing pen
And wondering when
This cold snap will end,
Blend my ink,
Heat it in the sink,
Let the nib take a drink
As I think
About what to write
To pass this long night.

The best escape is fantasy,
It is simply ecstasy
To ignore the senses
And build imaginary defences
Against discomfort,
I like to get caught
Up in an elaborate tale,
They never fail
To take the pain away,
How can it stay
When it belongs to a world I no longer inhabit?
I’ve made a bad habit
Of this,
Chase bliss
Instead of facing
What sends my heart racing
With anxiety.

But there is no need for despair,
I don’t think anyone would care
If I snuggle up in bed
And fill my head
With what cannot be
In an effort to be free,
At least I don’t see
Anything wrong with a book,
But I guess it took
A long time
Before I could escape and feel high
Without the slime
To force me to let go and fly.