Gnawing

It starts as a low hum, a slow and quiet sound I can't place
Like hearing electricity
Like feeling lightning before it strikes
Pent up emotions building on one another
A tall skyscraper of disgust, sorrow, loneliness
Built on a foundation of wobbling self doubt
Taller it grows, jutting out here and there, teetering like an old drunk
Daring to collapse in a heap of tears and dead dreams

When it does, you had better get out of the way fast
Like an earthquake, all the floors crumble
Imploding like an old Vegas hotel
Construction dust and ego filling the air
Self loathing surrounding you like a filthy fog of sludge
Tears streaming down or erupting from a fire hose

Spent, you sit and watch the dust settle
All you were piled at your feet
Waiting for you to rebuild
Becoming everything that they need
And nothing of who you were