Talk like me

By Brianna Duffy (‘23)

The air deepens like smoke.
Walking turns to swimming
and soon I am drowning.
My body is covered in paper cuts.

My throat clogs with words — 
overflowing everywhere but my mouth.
My cheeks are stained
with illegible effort.

I connect forehead to paper,
feeling for the harmony I’ve been begging for.
The jester plays his tune
and my reflection turns again.