Grim Reaper

The Grim Reaper we fear

creeping through the night

phantom of our dreams.

He is not the one

we should watch for,

no,

but the predator on the streets….

He stalks and whirls

encased in black

shadows are his home.

Creeping and crawling

into our hearts

bleeding dry our bones.

Living on our fears and hatred

gorging on all our despair.

He mocks and sidles

not even trying to repair

but dividing and punishing

all the good people here.

Believing he is a demi-god

master of all

bowing to no one.

Captain of his fallacy

chartering a path to hell

to confront the Grim Reaper

and challenge him for his crown.

Jay-lyn Doerksen

©Dec. 1/17

A Child, A Mother, An Addict

Displaced, 

tears crystallizing on my face

I claw and I scratch

my heart burns with regret.

I am helpless in your embrace.

A lover’s cold arms.

Holding,

cradling my soul in disgrace

talons finding chinks in the armor

that I wear to protect my heart.

You eat away,

eroding the foundation,

the very truth of myself.

Calling forth the beast within

making me confront myself.

Mirror image

a horror to be seen.

A sneer,

a snarl,

lips curled in defense

I raise my hand and shatter the glass.

Mirror mirror

an image I can’t compete

a child, a mother, an addict

a soul withering in her embrace.

© Jay-lyn Doerksen

1/27/16

***Another poem from 2016 that I love