A bundle of nerves tied in a knot as tight and as tangled as eldredge, around my neck, while the fuss of the life around me drowns me to chaos still. I go into waters so deep it gets hard to swim back up. The minuscule parts of my muscle throb and fight my being in a different kind of pain, wanting to be freed. Wanting to run a direction so divergent we may never find our way back home. And yet the longing for a explicit homestead stays.
The head of mine is participation to an all-time war, that only and only asks for my sanity as its reward. Every bone in my body gets the signal through every other fiber, to shut it up!...and yet I can't.
I think about jumping off of very tall somethings, but a voice in my head laughs at my own visions of a certain indiscretion. Like a breed of my own monsters calling out my cowardice. While a soft, warm being hides behind the door forcibly closed with locks too hard for her to open. She knows something I don't.
The volume, pressure, expansion, contraction- nothing works through the cavity. Nothing bleeds for lucidity, only for the curse I cage myself with.
Take a chill pill, Alfie.
You're wired and need to calm down.
Take a long deep breath.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2026
he asked me to join him
to celebrate his 30th birthday
in St. Louis
he's worried the weather may ruin our plans
he wants me to explore the city (although I would not mind us being snowed in, skin to skin)
this celebration is roughly 4 months away
but I fell in love 4 days ago
today, I feel nauseous
but I gathered myself and I continued to write him this letter
(humming my favorite Beatles song to calm my nerves)
Softer than her being, she stood.
Inclined to the wall in that semi-lit darkness--
gazing at me, with the charm I wanted to dive in.
Her eyes inviting, convinced I’d steal the moment.
I stood, gazing at her, listening to words unspoken.
While in that silence my me screamed to rush
To hold her softness, to press her with mine---
I waited, with a promise that glowed, let the desire die
Even as my nerves and my heart battled in protest.
I didn’t lose her and the flame is still as warm.
********************************************
all I n
e
e
d
is a °l•°o°•v•°e°
w
i
t
h
o
u
t
f`a`u`l`t ~
that c~~o~~m~~e~~s
p e r f e c t
then I'll have r~~e~~s~~t
for your °l•°o•°v•°e° b
r
i
ngs peace of mind ~
that c°°a°°l°°m°°s my n~e~r~v~e~s
Will I be left here?
My heart beats with fear,
my nerves and sweat smear.
Does he look at me,
should I look to see?
No, then hope might fade.
I want plans I made
to stay as dreams bade.
This process is rude,
hurts one’s attitude,
shows no latitude …
Has he eyed me yet?
Man, my palms are wet.
Wish I were all set.
Please let dreams befall -
Choose me for dodgeball.
I took up the call
The command was made
Placed the receiver down
Hardened my resolve
Steadying my shivering nerves
I picked up the gun
Shot at the innocent man
He fell with a thud
Blood spurted from his chest
With my descent into Hell
I fell from Grace
My gut swiftly swirled
Downwards the twilight zone
A throne of skin and bone spoke
"Thine sin you must atone."
sunshine hits my back
I hear the caw of a crow
smelling cut fresh grass
all nerves suddenly alert
someone must be watching me
Nerves atwitter
like butterflies, they flit
The stage, brilliant-lit
band’s in the pit
Lights finally dim
glad I’m not him…
His first marquis date
~ does fortune await
Caffeine
Soothe my nerves
Soothe my soul
Like a cup of gold
Black as an ace
Bitter as aloe
Increase the adrenaline
Up the heart rate
Low blood pressure treats
Decaff is a joke
Ill-conceived beverage
Makes me want to choke
By Cathrin Stuart
The cold gates of the blazing seventh circle
again open for one before another,
The mouths of the ground remain ajar
to snatch before heaven has barely given;
While the wind still thirsts for his breath.
As far as prayers go, I like mine hushed,
with my lips barely begging to be seen.
I tuck my tongue underneath my tongue,
and play true to the church mouse;
my hands at soldier’s attention.
Yet still,
I would parody a pose of praying mantis
and wail a thousand tongues
If a thousand tongues could speak
Ashes and dust back to flesh.
Shards of ice
Stuck in throat
Burning sideways
Bitter char
Need to speak
Nothing rises
Calm your frayed nerves, dry beading brow
You’ve reached the end, now time can cease
How we got here, don’t ask me how
Calm your frayed nerves, dry beading brow
Accomplished as much as days would allow
Your loose ends are tied, be at peace
Calm your frayed nerves, dry beading brow
You’ve reached the end, now time can cease
Deathly afraid of needles
Barbie began to whine and wheedle
Aw, Doc, before you plunge in that syringe
Listen to this, try not to cringe
Studies show that needle-induced trauma
afflicts 98% of birthing mommas...
But Doc went ahead, stuck in that sharp pole
Bwa-ha-ha ~ another win for population control
the mundane
nerves all ajangle
stomach knots to untangle
that life once well known
is not playing well at home
builds many obtuse angles
dealing with mundane
each day turning out the same
no bomb exploding
weapons which we are loading
reflects life become too tame
too much day to day
preparedness goes astray
need to stay alert
so people do not get hurt
most serious game we play
much of the humdrum
turns nerves into taut snare drums
pounds out the feeling
rockets may some come squealing
pay attention or succumb
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