my esophagus is stiff
with words that only sink to the bottom of my stomach
i cannot create them
they have no substance
their absence is heavy
their silence is deafening
their weight is monstrous
my self cannot fathom
these empty words
that swarm my contagious heart
that eat away at the surface
a nostalgic song haunts my sleep
and i never recall the name
i wake up mouthing its lyrics
no sound escapes my lungs
the childlike melody burning away
the hours i sleep account to nothing
for even when i am sleeping
i never rest
my mind has built a nest for itself
i curl up inside and forget the world
erase myself from its memory
my disguise is growing old
acknowledge my pain this once
as i swallow my heaving cry
stare into these desperate eyes
take my hand just for tonight
and sing your beautiful lie
that everything will be alright
