Scribbled Thoughts

Reveal yourself

to a stranger

and have them untangle

your thoughts,

your inner fears.

Be seen

and be scared

but cry tears of relief

and ready yourself

to meet again

so you’ll begin to understand

who you really are.

Dance away into dirt,

twirling with glee

and not thinking of later

when consequences emerge

and your actions

darken someone else’s

psyche, confidence,

existence.

Read the results

and puzzle over the language,

trying to decide

if normal is good

or still not good enough

for the task

your body

should be carrying out.

Normal,

but still no answers.

Unexpected help

pulls you from drowning

in a river

you refused to acknowledge.

Paddle to the edge

and grab the hand,

praying it won’t disappear

before you can

touch it.

Startle at a presence

that rouses the sleeping,

instead recognition

sinks them into content,

an arm of security

wrapping away all worry,

whose existence

hadn’t been registered

until it disappeared.

Head to the last stall,

bypassing others

to the hideaway at the end,

sinking into shadows

for a moment

and letting the world

forget you

while you remember

why you want

to be here.

A day to recover

before time becomes distorted,

working instead of sleeping,

sleeping instead of eating,

and eating only when reminded.

Just a little longer,

you hope.

Just a little longer.

Delighted relief

steps out of the exhaustion,

boosting a tired body

and urging on the mind

knowing, finally,

the ground has

become a little

more solid.

Bored thoughts

still refuse

to close down,

spinning as the body

lays stationary

and refusing to drift

into the oblivion

every part of you

longs for.