I used to have a demon living at the base of my spine. When she felt like it, she would pierce my skin with a sharpened claw, cut a slit open, force her way out and crawl slowly up my back. She would cut the skin at the base of my skull and slide her claws in under my scalp, forcing me to listen while she whispered in my ear.
“No one wants you here,” she would whisper. “They can’t wait for you to leave,” she would hiss. She would continue to torture me until I fled wherever I was. Only then would she slither down my back again. Even when I was alone I couldn’t escape her. She would crawl out at night while I was in bed, whispering terrible things while I tossed and turned.
Until the day I caught her. Pinned her between my back and a wall. Reached over with one hand and sewed her mouth shut with black twine so she couldn’t hiss in my ear any more. She tried to fight back, tried to claw the twine out. She banged her head against the back of mine. She only grew weaker, but she still cling to me for days, weeks, years. Slowly fading until she finally shriveled up completely, and I brushed her off my back like a cobweb, flicking her into the wind.
exorcising her
no more painful, cruel whispers
peaceful solitude
*******
Thank you Dverse for the prompt. I had been struggling to finish this one for a while, and adapted it as a haibun made it come together!
Everyday Strange 
What a response. I absolutely loved this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The evil torture of demons such as these. A great tribute to the enormity and gruesomeness (if that’s a word) of the struggle it takes to overcome them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, much appreciated!
LikeLike
Very powerful and poetic. Glad you worked this poem out with the haibun. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it was very satisfying!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great haibun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Woah. This is… soooo good. Way too good 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Oh those insecurities! I’ve always had them and they torture like hell with their constant criticism and nasty comments. Your wiring is powerful in conveying those feelings, especially how the demon would ‘cut a slit open, force her way out and crawl slowly up [my] back… and slide her claws in’. It takes a lot to catch those demons out and shake them off. But the peaceful solitude is worth it.
Thank you so much for joining us and I’m delighted the prompt helped you to bring it together.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for the kind words!
LikeLiked by 1 person
To identify the demon – separate her out and then entrap and destroy her – such power.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, and thank you for reading!
LikeLike
I’ve had a similar demon in my spine. She has lived there (she is 98.5 years old) and tormented me and said the same thing: “You don’t belong.” I’m glad you got her gone. I still live with mine, but distance helps. Thank you. Powerful stuff you write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, it was liberating to write. I hope you rid of yours someday.
LikeLike
Chilling and powerful. Great image of the demon crawling up and slithering down your spine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Yes, when we can replace the negative self-talk our lives will emerge in a better light!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person