Poem 1: Turmoil

There's a carousel of thoughts in my head
that goes every which way they want -
They spin, they teeter, they dip, they fly
they laugh at me and they constantly taunt.

I field people off from nearing the "ride"
fearing they won't like what they see when they're close.

Barriers have been built up high to the sky
I keep the door locked at my post.

The thoughts spin in their crazed orbit daily
Have a war always raging on
They battle during the day, in silence, in nighttime
And the wounds appear on my body at dawn.

So please stay back from the ride
You can't fix what's been broken so long
I have to smile, stand strong
And tell you that nothing is really wrong.