he resigned from his job
withdrew money from the bank
and packed up a few belongings
his mother and sister
hadn't heard from him for weeks
fearing the worst, they went looking
they found his car abandoned
on the edge of the wood
steven leif had had enough
worn down, worn out from calling his own bluff
the trembling inside became a tightening
before steven got sick
in the spring of the year
he had successfully hidden
the depth of his despair
and the power of his fear
being an actor
being a forever friend
being a loving brother and son
he fancied himself the court jester
banished from the abundant realm
steven leif had had enough
worn down, worn out from calling his own bluff
the trembling inside became a tightening
a solitary knight without armor
seeking to slay the evil dragon
with one deliberate motion
but, the lizard lived in his heart
setting his soul aflame
suspended there, an effigy of his fathers pain