Madness left me one morning
Half asleep, I heard it leave
With the sound
Of a door softly closing
I woke to sunlight and freedom
Madness said no farewell
Why should it tarry?
It left as it arrived
Untamed, unheralded
Willpower failed
I was helpless prey
I raged against my lodger
For at random intervals
Without warning
It took control
Did the world know?
I suspect not
Madness was clever enough
To leave me free rein
In areas that served it well
Madness chose not to interfere
In my job, my health, my house
All the things it needed
To sustain me
While it fed
Appetite sated, madness moved on
I should be thankful
And yet
I miss
Anticipation
Exhilaration
Subjugation
Release
Freedom has its price
East Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Madeleine McDonald lives on the east coast of England, where the wind whistles up through the floorboards. She writes newspaper columns, short stories and poetry. Her third novel, A Shackled Inheritance,was published in 2016, www.amazon.com/dp/B01BBCBX38.