voices

in my ear

telling me i cannot

reminding me i did not

gently whispering about the last time

memories

revolving upstairs

conjuring up images

of failure, mediocrity, apathy

pushing me to give up and give in

lies

the language by which

my head communicates

to my body in an effort

to deliver defeat before i begin

HopE

the counter i use

to convince myself

that the lies are voices

created by memories

that will not live to be repeated