Crescent_Moon

An eraser mark on a fresh sheet of paper.

A single tearstain on an especially difficult test.

A scribble in the margins of an old textbook.

A small rip on the edge of a page in a much-loved book.

All of my thoughts became
a knot of information
tied up inside my brain
and I stared at the paper
feeling enormous shame
I knew the topic thoroughly
but I was not prepared
for the emotional strain

In middle school I ran
on the cross country team
and for a while it was
the best thing in the world.
I crossed the finish line
always with a smile
no matter where I placed.
But as my team's reputation

There's a certain pain
in knowing that something
that you intensely desire
lies right around the corner
and the only thing you can do
is wait as patiently as you can
It begins to occupy every thought

In school
as I'm taking notes
I doodle
all over my notes sheet

In class
as the teacher lectures
I doodle
all over my desk

At home
as I listen to an audiobook
I doodle
on my homework

And when