"orientation"

my heart is pounding 

feelings swirling around

like a tornado

my shoelaces 

tighter than a corset

the sweltering heat makes my hands clammy

i rub them onto my khaki shorts

and i peer down at my ring from spain

the outer rim lined with red dots

with two blue circles in the center

i suppose the ring will be fitting for today

invigorating

thrilling

and completely unknown

and truthfully 

part of the thrill

is the unknown element

while i yearn for better times

and am nostalgic

for the comfort 

of my past life

i convince myself 

to touch the handle

and open the door 

with caution

on a note of careful optimism

"cross country"

my feet slam onto the ground

in forceful rhythm

one, two, three, four

and if i go fast enough

i can hear the whips of the wind

against my ears

my mind is far too occupied

to stress 

or worry

and all i can think about

is the finish line

i am a few feet away

from victory

not first place

but victory for me

i cannot breathe

for the life of me

but somehow

i muster the strength

to sprint

and leap

and soar

i reach the end

and i collapse

onto the grassy field

and i’m panting

but somehow

i muster the energy

to grin

"stress"

i feel like i’m in the blue sea

swimming in the saltwater

and the water is still

and the sun is shining

but somehow 

i find myself

at the bottom depths 

where it is dark

and lonely

and nobody knows me

no one

is patiently waiting

with a perfect canoe

and life vest 

no one 

will risk their life

and swim to the deep

to save yours

so you sit 

among the mysterious creatures

in isolation

and let your body

decay in the sand 

"music"

i never fully had 

the religious experience

of a little green app

with a circle

and three stripes

until the month of october

there is a feeling

when a song is 

so melodic

and extraordinary

that it quenches a thirst

i never knew i had

and when i play it 

loud enough

the tune flows

through

my bones

veins 

and lips

and it swirls

waves 

curves

around the classroom