Oak Street

Melanie Costello

.

The conversation falls silent

Your mouth is sour

Can anyone remain sane

In a life like this

.

Overstimulation

Mind runs a marathon

While the air around you

Heavy and stale

.

Your body can’t seem to move

Except for the lump

That grows in your throat

.

Realizations never feel good

Walk around at dawn

In your childhood neighborhood

Recite the street names

.

We may be in constant motion

But its easy to feel frozen

Stuck to the wall

Back in fifth grade

Playing pretend

.

Seated under

The large fluorescent lights

Of your elementary school

Count the dead bugs inside them