[ sentiments fill me ]

sentiments fill me
overflowing in my close palm
of a heart
i recognize none of them
but the sensation
of a rising chest
lungs filled with air
in the impossibility
of exhalation.

it troubles me that i can never name
any of these little demons
that bloat my fragile heart
with their tiny footsteps
marching like trained soldiers
nameless, mere shadows of memories
i can never quite recall

i soothe the tightness
with shots of jose
as i dance to the rhythm of insanity
begging the deities to spare me
the attack and let alone
the sunken ships with their ghosts

but the drums beat on
madly pounding through me
the veins in my neck throb
my speech altered by a choke-like
gasp escaping my lips
and i beg my demons to go away
to leave me be

but they fall
in droplets
from the corner of my eyes
pouring into the ocean
of a darkness slowly
gaining light.