Lukewarm coffee to dull the pain,
Spiked with whiskey and bitter tears.
This ritualistic consumption stops
The demons for a moment.

Spiked with whiskey and bitter tears,
I use words as a crutch.
The demons, for a moment,
Fire tongues and gnash teeth.

I use words as a crutch
To bargain myself for the rights to my soul.
Fiery tongues and gnashed teeth,
Compelled to work until defeat.

Bargaining myself for the rights to my soul,
Things have come to that.
Compelled, to work until defeat:
Shall we call it willpower or suicide?