You pick, pick, pick, pick, pick away

At my sanity and self-esteem.

A vulture that feeds on my carcass

Gaining power, vitality and sustenance

From my ruination

Stripping me to the bone.

You dig your claws in

Like a lion

Sinking them deep and deeper still

Until I am immobile

And give up the fight

Too tired to hold on

Poof! Out goes my light.

You tear strips of flesh from me

A rabid hyena

Laughing and smiling and joking with the pack

About my demise.

You take pleasure,

You revel in it

It’s a source of great joy and amusement to you

Of much mirth and merriment.

A raucous celebration

At my expense.

The crocodile snaps

And clamps its jaws tight

Rolling me around and around and around

Not letting go

Not loosening its grip,

Until I am limp and lifeless

Until I have taken my last gasped breath,

A plaintive, exhausted sigh heaven bound

And I am no longer able to utter a sound.

You’re like a marauding herd of elephants

Stampeding, bulldozing me

Kicking me down

Trampling me into the ground

Grinding me into the dirt

You bet I’ll make this hurt.

A scorpion with a bitter, malicious sting in its tail

Your porcupine quills are up

Your snake venom is ready to be unleashed

You bite hard

You attack.

I have no strength,

No desire

No will

To fight back.