no princess in an ivory tower
for I have clawed my way out
to climb down the side
but it is such a long way down
any my grasp is slippery
slickened by my own blood
my vision is blurred
by fatigue and tears
clinging here to unyielding stone
as waves spray higher to lash at me
Rescue me
no dragons here,
no need for knights with swords
the firey breath burns within me
searing me with pain
I gasp and curl in agony
Rescue me
thought I still climb down alone
as my footholds crumble beneath me
and I fall a little
catching new holds
after frightening eternity
as I thought I'd fall forever
into a lifeless churning sea
mechanically grinding away
to erode all it touches to sand
and press it down beneath its terrible weight
Rescue me
please reach out to stay my fall
for every time I am broken
and fractures lace my bones
many times I have shattered
and lay painwracked on a ledge
looking in a tower window
back to the depths of my prison
the would-be safety of isolation
no elements to touch me
in the suffocating lightness
on soft antiseptic couches
that would protect me forever
by not letting go
muffled in a womb of coverlets
to lie and dream of waking
bundled from couch to coffin
as my dissicated hush withers away
still treasured like a dead butterfly
a well kept specimen
so I lie broken and rest a moment
breath fluttering like whispering wings of pain
I move again before I'm ready
the bruises never seem to heal
and wounds re-open unexpectedly
as I strain to make progress once more
Rescue me
I look up and see my blood stained trail
and broken rubble that gave way
still crumbling further to fall on me
what bore my weight now strikes me down
I cry for all the blood I've spilled
my ivory tower now scarlet streaked
I cry in fear at the view below
as I mistrust my ledge that supports me
and jagged rocks rise up below
spires to finish me when I fall
yet it seems I'm closer to the base
than when I started, years ago
Rescue me
call out to me as I descend
my descent has been so long
I had almost forgotten my goal
to leave behind this monolith
and touch on living soil
Rescue me
a rope to hold, but not to bind me
a net for safety, but not to snare me
an ear to listen, not harshly judge me
a voice to talk to, but not command me
support, shelter, solace
still don't take me away
I must climb the length down
I won't be carried off
for I'd take the whole tower with me
the journey unfinished
you may not see my tower
but still
Rescue me
I may seem on the ground
but the distance is not as it seems
just touch me with healing
to ease my descent
cease my struggling's self-injury
and I will be rescued
though the climb far from over
and no happiness after guaranteed
no riding away toward the sunset to end it
nor carried off in strong arms
to abandon past memories
all wiped away by a magical kiss
but I may one day take your hand
and take steps on the ground
thought I may still circle my tower's base
it will someday receede
and seem smaller than now
perhaps the shadow won't always follow me
my scars may linger
but no longer bleed
to be thought of less as life goes on
and you will, we will
have rescued me
-Elise April 5, 1996
