jagged chain with spikes of steel
let it wrap around this heart
and squeeze until it has its fill
punishment in every clench and pull
until breath seems like a memory
and joy seems like a song
distant and lilting
even as the chain hangs
fierce and heavy
weighing down the body
goring the soul
and tightening evermore, even still
About the Creator
angela hepworth
Hello! I’m Angela and I enjoy writing fiction, poetry, reviews, and more. I delve into the dark, the sad, the silly, the sexy, and the stupid. Come check me out!
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
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📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 01/08/2026
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Comments (8)
Throttling.
And love, it can trap us. Soulful.
It does feel like this at times. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
'goring the soul...' 😮 This is really beautifully written but I also hope you're alright
oh Angela, my heart breaks thinking you're going through any of this, if you are I wish you the biggest of warm hugs! 🩷 This is so powerful and just so visceral and raw! Amazing work, it's hard and rough, but also beautiful! So good!
This is raw, and yet beautifully written. Well done.
'Goring the soul,' so incredibly visceral. This was full of bite and sadness. Great writing!
Well, that's a bit harsh! He probably deserved it, of course! A very disturbing read!