In the darkness of the night
when tranquillity should be restored 
Anxiety rises and swells 
anguish that cannot be ignored 

Depriving me of sleep and rest
refusing to be kept at bay 
Trapped in the bleak cavern of my head
negative thoughts ricochet

Flashbacks replay on repeat
thundering roar to distant rumble
Sharp reminders of hurt and shame
fade into a nagging grumble  

Caught in an eternal cycle
trauma and torment intertwined 
Haunting memories of past mistakes 
reverberate through my mind

Churned over like small pebbles 
foamed by the motion of the ocean
Blasts from the past rock and roll 
on tidal waves of raw emotion

Drowning in the depths of distress
suffocated by guilt and pain 
No matter how much I try 
there is no reasoning with my brain  

With the sting of early morning light
dawn breaks on a brand new day
I close my eyes to picture a scene  
set a million miles away

There I stand on golden sand
taking deep breaths of the salty air
A warm glow flushes across my skin
cool breeze brushes through my hair

In tune with the ebb and flow 
my pulse settles to a steady beat 
Stillness washes over me 
as water gently laps at my feet 

In the safety of the shallows 
I cast aside all doubt and fear
Untroubled and now at ease
whispers from the sea are all I hear