The Hammer

the waiting begins

THE HAMMER

Photo by Ian Talmacs on Unsplash

The weight of the hammer
Hangs threatening, suspended,
Chilling muscles and bones
The body crawls with anticipation.

In a stifling prison,
Trapped between walls and ceiling,
The urge to run is extinguished
By unyielding concrete.

Nerves fray from the pressure
Knees bend prepared for the blow
Decimating in its fervor
Deadening in its blunt determination.

A brief reprieve from dread,
Then, the waiting begins
More excruciating than the disaster
Mercilessly, the cycle repeats.

A dangerous pattern emerges
Marked by anxiety and fear
Eyes in the back of the head
Watch vigilantly
For the betrayal of safety
By irrevocable force.

The victim cowers
Expecting rage and anger
Expecting calamity
As the ground opens up
Swallowing him whole.
©2026 Stephanie M. Vargo