hope

hope

living on the edge of hope expecting the worst
unknown forces at battle all aiming for the soul
tied tight by a frayed rope lungs about to burst
awaiting death’s rattle descending in the cold
as the first breath caught when will be the last
recall the confidence as everything falls apart
being who death sought when the dice are cast
life of no consequence yet the beat of the heart
as the will weakens as the moments grow short
a ghost of a trail leads to the depth of the grave
a need to inhale quickens lips no longer thwart
bubbles of silver beads as if chains of the slave
finally bind the drowning a prisoner of the deep
above the ship foundering a soul gone to sleep