Waking Up in Quicksand – A Poem by David Ritter

Waking Up in Quicksand

Waking up in quicksand, in a mire of doubt,
Getting sucked deeper, with no way out,
It seems nobody cares, I have no reason to fight,
My life is a thistle, on a dark windy night.

Memories long past, cut me like a knife,
A lost soul, I flounder, in an ocean of strife,
Monsters keep screaming, inside my head,
And I wonder if I’m not better off dead.

The needle looks welcome, or a fat white line,
Take another puff, and all will be fine,
There seems no escaping, this sad life I’m in,
My demons are strong, and they always win.

I flee from my burdens, for they are a curse,
But reality finds me, to make matters worse,
I reach for the bottle, my staff and rod,
The devil inside smiles and gives me a nod.

This crazy life I’m living, grows rapidly old,
A nice shot of whisky, would keep out the cold,
My companion, the devil, knows I long to be free,
He grins as he pushes, the bottle towards me.

My world is decaying, in this loser’s game,
Believing in nothing, I pray just the same,
I’m drowning in guilt, and I’m unable to cope,
Why won’t my God, just throw me a rope.

Tonight, if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to sleep,
Forget all my troubles, in a slumber so deep,
In the morning I’ll rise, and I’ll silently shout,
As I’m waking up in quicksand, with no way out

— David Ritter