quiet

your body shaken when you sleep

everything is still, like a piece

of exam paper, i feel the air

moving around me, so intensely

so thick, it could swallow me

people are laughing on the streets

the ones staying on the upper level are home

i turn to kiss you goodnight

you were right, there’s an immense sadness

creeping inside my lungs, taking away my breath

every minute of the day, i wanna escape

this reality – these pressures to be good

to stop chasing after the stars

to glue your feet to the ground

and learn to be quiet.

t.l.