What’s the sense
In silencing
Sadness?
How sad to see
The spirit sour
Over snivels
Sobs
So. What?
Smiles are
Sometimes sparing
Sweetness sparse
Some smear ‘scara
Sneeze, sniff. Still,
Shame, seizes
I see sorrow as
Softening the
Senses
Why silence
Sadness?
Suffering can be sustenance.
Succour.
_________
PMS
A pit of molten lava
Layers of flesh torn away like fresh pieces of naan bread
A pinch below the ribs like an impertinent aunt noting the weight you’ve put on
Strong hands kneeding at the muscles pressing at them like sourdough
Flames lick the insular layers of the flesh
Bile threatens, at teeters and the prescipice of the throat.
Waves of unease and uncertainty arise and collapse.
The senses cry out in process
As the flow of energy seeps out of a crack in the back of your head.
_______
419
What’s it like to be a fraud?
To smile in your parent’s face and nod when they ask if you’re doing well in school
What’s it like to be a fraud?
To sit for hours checking emails and submitting forms
Masquerading under the guise of productivity
What’s it like to be a fraud?
Getting up early only to spend hours on your makeup and clothes and miss a lecture
What’s it like to be afraid?
How many days till that deadline? Five? Three?
Oh it’s tomorrow,
Intresting.
_________
Need
‘Give me time!’ He cried
Briefly, the clock glanced over its shoulder and then kept running
‘Give me patience!’ He cried
Without much acknowledgement Patience’s loose thread continued to unravel as rapidly as it had done before, as it had heard nothing
‘Give me love!’ He cried
Love, as elusive as ever stayed hidden in the shadows batting its eyelashes, it’s expression coy; hoping to be chased
Deflated, the man, fell silent.
Quietly, as he stood still peace snuck up behind him enveloping his body with hers.
‘Thank you,’ He said
–
Words, Niquella Simpson-West
Illustration, @chantayblue on Instagram