Monotony and a Pencil

Words 
Adorned by graphite expectations 
Fingers gripping tightly 
To the chipping yellow nub
To the hopes and dreams
He’s afraid will dry up
Colors
Surge through his head
Washing gentle waves upon his brain 
Gentle are not the words he wishes to convey 
Nonetheless he lets the silence envelop him 
Fantasies of freedom 
Gone along with the sunkissed inspiration 
And will to rise from his seat
Choking on the dread that filled his lungs 
It smells of anxiety and highlighter ink
many a homework assignment late or incomplete 
And of the many many people who may have sat 
But in this silence too, sink 
Wishing much like he that they too could be gone 
In just one easily mistakable blink 
He raises his head 
But all he can see is chartreuse and honey yellow 
Sharp circles and soft triangles 
is the cast of all his troubles 
Greys that slowly creep and purples that so gentle peep 
From a mind of colored yarn 
eyes baggy from a lack of sleep 
Panic rising in a neon yellow wave
Cresting as his thoughts a flurry 
Mingling with a fear of change
Countless insecurities on a foundation of mistrust 
Slowly increasing expectations 
But he feels he’s not enough 
Oh so many times he’s broken down and cried
Hiding from the person that he knows he is inside 
Denying each aspect that he’s scared to understand 
Of the mind that lives inside his skull 
A partially undiscovered land 
Tighter still he grips his pencil 
Until grasped with his other hand 
CrAcK 
Chipping yellow in two parts, broken by the fear of falling apart.
 

Inkpaw

VT

18 years old

More by Inkpaw

  • The Boxes In The Corner

    Looming over your shoulders

    Each stack higher than its former

    Every thought and every scrap

    Of an idea too scared to ponder

     

    Every moment that hurt

    Each minute that lingered longer

  • Inadequacy


    How do I push the words out
    From behind my taffy tongue 
    Thick with salty tears 
    And full of grubby thumb 


    I’m a child 
    Pretending that I’m numb 
    To escape the overwhelming feelings 

  • Paper Frogs

    Why

    When feet fall soft but quick 

    Does the hallway extend

    And the hot breath of whoever’s behind me feel hotter 

    Why do I stay pressed to the wall 

    Like a stubborn gruby sticker