A Hardened Heart

all I want is to run

far and fast and screaming.

run to places unknown

distant and far away.

with speed and agility

make my way round obstacles.

with strength and stamina

see how far I can go.

muscles flexing, burning

stretched to their very limit.

blood pumping fiercely

through every swollen vein.

breath coming fast and hard

lungs put to the test.

gasping but never giving in

beyond any limit set.

I want to run without direction

no map or navigation.

to be moving without knowing

just where I might land.

I want to lose this image of

myself along the way.

I want to forget the spelling

and the sound of my name.

I want to break this mold

that I cannot seem to crack.

the one that has me trapped

in my own mind.

rip and tear at the edges

until something finally gives.

and a sigh of relief

lets me slowly inhale again.

I want to breath this darkness out

in heavy deep sighs.

let this blackness

seep out of my chest.

withdraw sharpened teeth

retract jagged claws.

and find the tenderness

of a heart that has become so hard.