Piece of My Mind

that piece of my mind

covered with prickly thorns

malignant as it oozes

its noxious inclinations

was it original, congenital

coming on like adolescence

or was I groomed and conditioned

and had my virgin mind violated

that piece of my mind

grows when tended lovingly

withers when neglected

so hard to strike a balance

I have failed to extract it

the roots are strong and deep

I feel the barbs gripping

when I try to pull it out

that piece of my mind

needs a sharp instrument

and the precision of a surgeon

to slice it from my soul

so I await his coming

with a double edged sword

proceeding from his mouth

to make that healing cut