The World's Lone Soldier

by Nick M

Feeling the lava of anger bubbling inside,
It won't make its way to the outside world for other eyes to stare at,
But it is there.
It is an unmistakable feeling that has become way too familiar,
And yet there is no way to help it, no way to feel alright.
The young man soldiers on through the world,
Taking all the flak from those around him, shouldering the burden of all.
Can't show anyone that he hurts,
Can't let his anger affect those around him,
Can't hurt anyone or need anyone,
Can't ever be weak, for then he loses everything, everyone.
Everyone else can feel anger, take it out on him and the world remains in balance,
But if he lets even a glimmer of that lava reach the surface, all is lost.
Everyone else seems to be able to feel this anger but for him it is just another internal volcanic eruption.
The lava starts in the stomach, and it seems to draw from every part of his body, every extremity,
It feels as though his whole body is being drained of life, of happiness, of drive, of hope, of laughter,
All filtered into this heated feeling of a Chernobyl plant failure in his very core.
He doesn't know why the world operates this way or why he has been chosen for this solo act,
Or whether it was he who chose himself and there is something he can do, but this only fuels the fire.
This internal rage as to why it's him creates roman fire out of the red hot lava, only more burning.
He tries his best to keep this world afloat, he tries his best to be it's guardian angel, however
When the world causes those around him whom he holds so dear to get angry,
And the anger gets directed at him
He suffers the collateral damage and eats the fiery wrath of those around him.
Every time he wonders how much more he can consume without burning alive,
But he goes on as the world's lone soldier who can do no wrong, leaned on by all,
He doesn't know how to do anything else but walk this path he has tasked himself with.
Fire eater, soldier with a duty to all, close friends and strangers alike, whoever needs him.
As he burns from the inside out, and those around him take no notice,
He walks along, with lava bubbling inside, fire goes in, and nothing comes out.