he lies awake
open-eyed nightmaring
white knuckle gripping vertical green bars
in the name of chasing a dream
that never bloomed.
drops of blood trickle from his urethra
dyeing portions of his urine cherry red.
left hand bracing the wall
supporting herniated discs
and confidence eroding depression.
he slowly shuffles over
his parents’ creaky floorboards
back to a bed
in a room he doesn’t own.
in a home no longer his.
how does one bring the crowd to their feet
when struggling to stand
upon their own two?