lion's den

Child in the heart -
Wounded and marked,
Completely scarred
Running criss cross across the soul.

The smile faded
Completely jaded.
The dungeon so hated
Mirrored in eyes like a black hole.

Sick of surrogates,
Choked on replicates,
Collapsed by the gates,
Broken down one step from the goal.

Bruised,
Confused,
Caught again
In the lion's den.