Swallow Me








i’ve lied on floors before,

unabashed and wailing

contemplating my death days 

before the sun could even rise 

and i’ve writhed in agony 

in the arms of my looping carpet.

but never before have i hated each atom, each molecule of wretched air twisted in putrid and vile weaving ribbons like i do now,

lying on an acrylic floor 

hating myself and hating everything. 

i have never before despised the birdsong playing around me in a lovely melody so sickening it makes me wish the floor would melt around me and swallow me up. 

swallow me. 

swallow me. 

swallow me. 

finish what you’ve started. infect me with your decrepit dreams of isolation and damn those who dare to laugh at you as if it is we who are lucky when they can try it again next year,

and i was numb and i was broken and i am angry. 

i am a conversation that lapses in time and fades between being there and being veiled and goddamnit i always feel the wrong things. 

i wasn’t ready. 

it didn’t care. 

swallow me. 

swallow me. 

swallow me. 

lila woodard

VT

YWP Alumni

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    you make me feel trapped,
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