
By Michael W. Raley
I feel it coming on,
That sinking feeling of dread.
I do what I can to procrastinate,
Trying to make the feeling go away.
It’s not working.
My breathing becomes faster and more intense.
I don’t want to leave my safe space.
I become fully aware in the moment
And begin to reason with myself.
It isn’t logical for me to feel this way
And I know that.
There’s nothing out there that’s going to get me,
But my heart races more and more.
Nothing has happened to make me fear leaving,
This just happens and I can’t explain it.
Just go and do what you have to do,
I say to push myself out the door.
I finally muster up the courage to leave
And accomplish an attempt at a productive life.
This is no way to live,
But it is the way I live,
Behind the bars of an irrational prison.