Voices All Around Me

Piercing through my temples

the headache starts anew

I block it off by then it starts:

the bugle call of voices

screaming in my ears.

They remain invisible

the people who I hear

One says

“Pick it up and hide in your sleeve”

Another says:

“Leave him be, it’s is guilt to bear.”

I struggle to make them shut up

and from my throat tears a scream.

A hand comes on my shoulders

and when I look up I see

an officer in crisp-creased clothes

his face drawn in a line.

The breeze wiggles against my eyes

and I realize I’ve been made a pawn.

I look out through another’s eyes

and on the carpet there seeps blood.

I stumble back and a knife clatters

from my hand.

Lying on the floor is Jack

eyes glassy and skin cold.

My voice comes out bold and gruff,

“I didn’t do it on my own.”

The officer lifts his brow in disbelief

But I cannot stop the protest from coming out

“It wasn’t me I swear it,

the voices made me life it

and I couldn’t stay my hand.”