tell me virginia

when the shadows sleep
and leave you to play with
the many faceless creatures that call
your name, subverting sobriety
you have mastered, after
a long journey that led you
nowhere,
what do you see?

when the deaf tolls of bells fall
on the languid cries of your child
for a mother trapped
in her own youth, for a future
she has yet to understand,
whose voice you hear?

when the feathers in your pocket
with which you shared
an ugly dream, turned to embers
that burnt your palms
clasped in prayers, to a God
unnamed, mummed answers
sent to mock
your thoughts of real and unreal,
how did you feel?

tell me virginia, tell me now
my own ghosts wont let me sleep
and the fire inside
consumes my soul fast, so fast!
i grope for air for my last struggling breaths
as my child clings to me
a life i cannot hold
for neither of us

tell me virginia, tell me..now
did you find peace away from dreams?
is there your solace
amidst the ocean?