On the Edge

On The Edge (By Cat Matchuk)

I can no longer tell if this shadow
hidden
somewhere deep
was created or always was.

This snake slithers to the surface to breathe my air,
instead of burying itself under my heart
to suffocate and shrink.

I sliced off layers of my own flesh,
I bled,
unknowingly feeding this shadow until it became my light.

I buried the shadow
I pushed it away

I buried
the seed

and it grew

I can no longer tell if this shadow
hidden
somewhere deep
will slip away to die or kill me to live.