Lost & Found (poem)

By Luke Labern

I

I lost my mind today
Not for long, but I
Lost it all the same.

I fought the door
And the door
Won.

Defeated by my fist,
I retreated into a
Familiar world.

My problems became
The stuff of dreams, and
I saw my mind.

II

My pain became
Expressions; pain became
A painkiller and I
Couldn't get enough.

The worries I often had
About authenticity
Were nowhere to
Be seen.

Nothing could have stopped me.
I'm sure my heart would have
Said "No, I won't stop --
Not at times like this."

I nodded -- not that I
Had any chance -- and,
With faith in my heart,
Continued.

III

I learnt things about myself
That I had long forgotten.
I was capable of things
To a higher standard --
More mature.

More proficient. No inhibitions.
No second thoughts.
I was simply
Impulsive. -- Which is how
I lost my mind in the first place.

But there was no going back now;
This was a break-through --
I had dreamt of this
For long than I
Can remember.

I could see the past, the
Future -- and of course, the
Present. I had the
Ability to chance
Anything I wanted.

IV

I'm not the sort of man to
Back down at the last
Moment. This had always
Been my dream.

So I did it.
My blood was a
River of fire.
Veins of lava.

I felt the shiver
I feel when I know
I'm about to
Change the world.

It's my favourite feeling
In the world, and
The reason I have
Self-belief.