I can’t breathe.

My pipe rattles and bellows,

a melody I cannot control.

Wrangling and strangling as I seethe.

Thrashing, my body shakes, shivers,

recoils, and quivers.

Lips parting, encircling

a scream threatening to fly.

A battle inside, tainting my soul,

tarnishing my whole.

I can’t breathe.

Bones rigid, mind chittering,

accompanied by strenuous tittering.

Clawing, gnawing, my sheath.

I can’t breathe.

The anxiety, fright, desperation,

pain, anguish, terror,

bite and bite till I leer,

till I leer at my tears.

I can’t breathe.

Push it away, bottle it up.

Tighten the knot, fasten the top.

Seal it up, stash it away.

Suffocate. Suffocate.

Swallow, swallow, till I can’t breathe.

Breathe no more, till the morrow.