You and I

by Sam M. Phillips

Save it,

You gave it

Your best shot,

And now need to stop—

.

But my brain burns hot!

I’m not some weakling,

Seeking a respite

From the harsh light

Of hard work,

I can jerk

Myself into motion—

.

Spare me your emotion,

I have a premonition,

And you need some rest,

Lest you burn out,

You cannot shout

Your thoughts at me all day—

.

Do not try to sway

Me with your false ideals,

My soul feels

The need to bleed,

I can feed

It and watch it burn,

See me turn

Anything into creation—

.

Your foolish superstition

Puts us in a bad position,

Surely it is wisdom

To condemn you when

You have lost all sight

For what might

Be good for you,

You cannot barge through,

Charge to

The next piece of writing

Without inviting

Calamity upon your head,

Your inability to cope will leave you dead—

.

I do not dread

Such an outcome,

In fact I run

Towards it at full speed,

So take heed,

I’ll do what I must,

And put my trust

In it all working out in the end—

.

You cannot bend

Creation to your will!

You’re sure to kill

It that way,

You play with fire,

And I have no desire

To sit and watch

You put to the torch

Everything we’ve worked towards together—

.

Then find another

Schizophrenic brother!

I don’t know why I bother,

I thought you a lover

Of all this wild creation?—

.

Yes, but the situation

Is desperate,

You’re despondent

And going mad,

I can see you’re sad,

And I think you’ve had

A bit too much of something,

It is such to bring

A man to his knees,

So please!

Get some sleep,

Do not keep

Writing this insane rant,

You brain can’t

Stand the strain—

.

Oh, you are a pain!

It’s all the same

To me,

But I see

I’m causing you distress,

So I’ll try my best

To lay down the pen,

Then will be pleased?—

.

And this was where I was seized

By a fear

That I had gone too near

The edge,

And a wedge

Had been driven into my mind,

But I was amazed to find

It was all just me,

Being able to see

Two sides to every thought,

Caught in an argument

To escape the torment

That I was meant

To be getting some sleep,

But I had sunk too deep

Into manic madness

To be able to rest.