Hard Time

The hardest time
I ever did
was in the prison
of my own head
in a tiny cell
riding that bottom bunk
of doubt
pacing that narrow floor
of apprehension
(between the bed and that concrete wall)
yanking at the shackles
of anxiety at my feet
beating on those bars of restraint
and hopelessness
trying to pry them apart
so I could get free
but couldn’t