I feel the hum of the city
its chaotic lull
people passing other people
unaware of a pulse

their own; a pressure gauge
about to blow at a trigger
honk the horn, throw the signs
make themselves feel bigger

I’ve been here long enough
to be sucked on in
survival of the fittest
who’s gonna win?

I feel the stampede
rage underneath my skin
words flow from the cage
they’ve been locked in

don’t know what you’ve seen
or where you’ve been
I’m sorry,
don’t have time to hear you
can’t listen –

to your problems
it’s my job
but work keeps building
I can scarcely keep my
head above quicksand

do my best
just take deep breaths
that will fix it
calm the slow moving disease
of exhaustion

drink the coffee
take a pill for ADHD
it will speed up my work
help me not to eat

my pressure gauge
close to blowing
at the sign of a trigger
honk the horn, flash the signs
I won’t feel bigger

I’ve been here long enough
it’s the end of the day
survival in the form
of a steady decay.

Emily C. Poésie © 2018