Poetry: Claustrophobia

Claustrophobia:

I am not claustrophobic

In small spaces.

Caves of rock

Feel secure

And a blanket

Pulled over my head,

Like a fort,

Is comforting

 

I am claustrophobic

When I feel penned in by

Society’s expectations

And do’s and don’ts

And past mistakes

I’m making again

 

I feel claustrophobic

When what I should do

And what I can do

And what I want to do

Zig-zag into each other’s ways

And I’m too tired

From watching the war

To do anything at all

 

I am claustrophobic

When I realize

Forever is impossible

And that there simply aren’t enough

Hours in the day

To be myself

Not with all these walls in the way.