mental breakdown

may 13, 2011. 12:oo PM.

(stop looking at me)

 

choir solos,

legs wobbling

voice rattling

like someone's

shaking me.

 

(stop looking)

 

thin reedy voices

in the lunch line

shame and bread

yes, i'm fine

no, i don't want a

cookie.

 

(stop looking please

i'm losing it)

 

scarfing down

throat knotted

eating with resolve

content with

my iron will

(ha)

 

(stop looking

i know you are)

 

shaking legs

counting tiles

kneeling in the bathroom stall

WHY

CAN'T

YOU

DO

IT

 

(i know you're there

listening to me gag

hearing my failure)

 

and finally

just breaking down

and tears fall

wipe my sour mouth

with toilet paper

while the bell rings

 

(stop looking

i know you are)

 

stumble to class,

head down,

be dead

nothing matters

for i'm somewhere else

 

(stop looking)

 

and suddenly the nurse is here

with a wheelchair?

my teacher says thank you,

she takes my arm

it's only now i notice i'm wailing

 

(stop

stop

stop)

 

i am eased to my feet

and pressed into the chair

maybe if i go away

i won't notice

how they're all staring

 

(stop)

 

misted eyes

 

(stop)

 

foggy minds

 

(stop)

 

roiling stomach

 

(why)

 

my skin burns

my skull pounds

but i'm gone,

me and my body

going who knows where.

 

(stop

staring

at

me)

Reviews

[Lyzzy Redd]

This is so intense and beautifully written. It gave me chills.

[Sam]

It's been a while since there was a poem that ever got to me emotionally. This was it. This poem is intense and wonderfully written.

[Blue tailed kite]

Wow... this was really intense.. very powerfully written... thanks for sharing