Zemira

In my head their voices all get mushed together

I feel like they're going to keep on asking me questions forever

My breathing gets faster and my eyes dart around the room

I just want to leave but I know it’s too soon

Get angry at me not at them  

They can't handle it- I know I can 

I face vicious words every day 

I just don’t want anyone else to feel my pain 

I think I’m ok, for now anyway 

& the trees outside stand like arrows

in the winter morning, stiff & afraid.

the world is cold, and hard,

and the new february ice lays unforgiving.

Long day

past where morning sun shines and into the dark huskiness of night

fluorescent lights beating down 

then flickering off

a fanfare

a reflection

a redemption

Click

Click

Click

I push at the eraser

of my mechanical pencil.

Watching the lead peek out to say

“Hello!”