Within the fog, teardrops are lost 
merging in the grey damp of meaninglessness 

cries echo the stillness only to fade away 
victim of the distance so carefully kept 

laughter is hollow here 
a moment's reaction soon swallowed whole 
as time lurks a phantom 
standing still even as it speeds by 

going nowhere 

there is an end to this dense cloud 
I stand within its reach unknowing 
only to turn away at the sound of my own fears 

wandering through consciousness 
I thirst for normality 

barren as my soul has become 
I pray for an oasis 
daring not to dream of its existence 

it shimmers before me on sanity's horizon 
illusion of a life I don't remember how to live 

the fog has become my cloak 
wrapped around in defense against the cruelty of this world 

~ 5/18/2000 ~