Tightness Poems

agony

a shriek,
	a high-pitched scream echoed against the walls,
lightning flashed,
	thunder rumbled deep and hard into my chest.
 pain,
	tightness,
		ache,
			sorrow.
it cannot be real, this is not happening, I cannot believe it.
to never again see,
talk,
hug,
love on,
		joke,
dance.
our son was –
our only boy was – 
our eldest child was – 
our headache was – 
our heart was – 
our angel is – 
forever 26.

Hopping Trains

On Friday nights we’d sneak into
the railyard and wait
in the shadows 
between the floodlights for a train
slow enough for us to hop,
our hands already tingling
with the promise of flight.

We trotted beside the train,
waiting for the right moment
to grab a boxcar’s ladder
and climb to the roof like outlaws—
aware of the danger
and thrilled by it—
as the train gathered speed.

We jumped as it rounded the curve—
boots hitting gravel, hearts pounding—
but a voice barked out of the dark,
and then a dog, all teeth and fury,
came tearing toward us.
We bolted for the fence
without looking back.

We hit the chain-link fence at speed,
scrambled like fugitives—
I braced for asthma to take me
but my lungs opened wide,
no tightness, no fire, just breath
pure and clean, lifting me over
like I was born to run.

I landed laughing—
heart hammering, lungs still free—
and something in me shifted.
I had outrun fear, leapt past
the story that said I couldn’t—
and for the first time,
I believed it.

Surviving this thing called life

Surviving This Thing Called Life

Anxiety coils in my chest,
A tightness I can’t name,
Whispers of doubt,
Cold fingers tracing my every breath.

Fear crouches at my doorstep,
A shadow that never leaves
It waits, it listens,
It tells me I am not enough.

Worries like a river,
Constant, unyielding,
Carrying me to shores
I never meant to reach.

I try to trust the world,
But the echoes of betrayal
Ring in my ears,
Each step a question,
Each smile a mask.

I am trying
Trying to find the balance
Between hope and survival,
Between wanting more
And fearing the worst.

I wake each day
And hold on to the smallest things:
A breath, a moment of calm,
A laugh that breaks through the fog.

I remind myself
I have survived this far,
With trembling hands
And a heart that still beats.

I am learning
That it is okay to be afraid,
That even the fiercest storms
Can break against a soul
That refuses to be drowned.

This life
This endless, aching life
It asks me to keep going,
And I do.
I do,
Even when it hurts.

was that a man or woman

I look down through the trees
Women in jogging suits pretending they like their tightness
Traveling along with speed, their tennis shoes flying
Men in hot business suits not daring to loosen their ties
They are here to eat a quick sandwich, wondering why they had not stayed inside
I can see the tops of people’s heads
Some of these women need to die their hair better
Two of them have white patches in the back
I guess that is better than bald spots
But wait, are they women or men?
It is not easy to decipher which from this vantage point
I dive down and grab a bread crumb off a bench
The old thing next to me is startled
Was that a man or woman?
Hard to say when you are a crow

Echo of my heart

My heart beats quite steady firm tightness my jaw sore as I await the infamous cardiovascular disorder to finally finish me off while the rhythm of my heart requires ongoing medication that allows my blood not to clot causing lots of bruises frightful panic attacks keeping me awake at night totally affecting my DAYTIME SLEEP APNEA  how do I stay awake barely watching the echo machine carry the beat of my heart o er to the harmonic waiting area I'm only by a thread held together by medication regiment staying alive after two strokes and a heart attack I should be dead already an yet I'm here breathing by nebulizer pumps sprays I'm alive I'm here by a thread surviving just to live just to feel the echo of my Heart beating

Self-hatred

It is addictive.

Used to it
like the wicked bitter pills
that one swallows to numb the pain,
to block the feelings.

Lethargic yet nerve-wracking;
A tightness in the chest that
never goes away.
Faint, throbbing, persistent. 

It is inherent to me.

the salinity of an ocean of tears,
the chaos of a storm wrecked ship,
the thorns of a lonely cactus.
Never clears away by itself.

Haunting like monsters,
nauseating like rotten hopes,
Appalling like oblivion, 
Repulsive like nightmares.

One drinks it,
Slowly. 

Like the morning cup of coffee,
Bitter, gone cold.
 Yet addictive.
Mine alone.


-Ree

Shared space

Elbow to elbow tightness like a can of sardines in water

Birthdays are forever

Every year
A new number emerges 
and my body feels 
the tightness 
or is it the tightness 
of my clothes 
as I enjoy 
too much birthday celebration?

Narrow Margin

- in those moments, it shines.
The nostalgia of an upside down
world glinting up through hourglasses of years,
a mark impressed upon flesh; a scar harbouring
simple childhood games inside a jagged
line now faded. Occasionally it flares,
reddens from a twist of skin uncomfortable,
or in the tightness of early morning dressing;
the twinge acts as an echo, a ripple, a call from
back then, years ago, an era lost like sand 
through fingers sweaty from summer heat,
lemonade with ice cubes clinking. The scar,
the mark, that narrow margin of error, a
Faultline physical memory running like a border
along my skin. And you were there, holding my hand
- in those moments, it shines.

growing pains

growing pains...

and so she grew,
because that’s what we all do.
she reminded herself that 
her body
is her vessel.
it does more than just
exist
for a compliment, 
for a boy,
for a mirror
or for a photo.
she told herself that her size,
and the tightness of her clothes
were not indicators of failure.
the fullness of her belly,
would never determine her worth
she found comfort in words like these.
yet she never,
not once
had to self assure
when her pants hung loose
or her stomach yearned for food,
when her waist curved inwards rather than out
not once,
not ever.

Be Stardust and Magic Unleashed

I wrote this poem for a friend who is struggling with anxiety, depression and a host of life challenges. 

So many people are struggling right now. Let's be kind and try to show compassion and understanding. Let's be gentle with each other.

Hugs, love and light.

Be stardust and magic unleashed 
By Michelle Morris
16/09/2023

You're struggling
Feeling trapped in your anxiety
The dark cloak of depression
Has tried to smother your happiness

But we are not born for Darkness 
We are born for the Light 
Made from stardust and magic
We are miracles so bright

Your destiny is unfolding
You do have choices for your path
Let the sun wrap warmth around you
And blast away the Darkness

Feel the tightness leave your chest
Feel your soul soar on angel wings
Embrace your power and greatness
Be stardust and magic unleashed 

© Michelle Morris, 2023

Punching Bag

I have this inkling feeling each time before i break 
a tightness in my chest, i swallow air 
and each time i want to discard every piece of you i own 
but i forget, forget, forget 

i close it off, i just don’t think about it 
and silently i let you barge in on my space 
and ask for more 
all you do is ask for more 

then good days turn into bad days 
and all my good poetry turns into bad poetry 
now i’m standing in the shower thinking over my day 
you didn’t do anything but disappoint me 

i didn’t get a lot of birthday wishes this year 
nor did my grandma send me the right book 
but i wasn’t upset, cause there was always you 
not anymore, i guess 
at least not the way i want it 

you make a point of walking over me and then wiping your feet 
and i make a point of breaking down and crying like a little kid 
and i don’t know how to say that i want to go alone 
since you’ll follow me anywhere 
but i need you to stop being attached 
attached to me, your punching bag

Good Taste Fit Right Truth-Aloof

Most things that taste good are bad for you the true 
Nutrients is the closeness to the wrongness now aloof
When you swallow the truth and glorifies you 
It brings you closer to the essence of life truth

GOOD TASTE FIT RIGHT TRUTH-aloof

Now those things that are fitting for you conform 
And fit on you they don't just fall and hang loosely on you 
Like a drape hanging down and the tightness there is
It's the embrace of there is a molding a bonding aloof 
The truth finds his way when you're loose

GOOD TASTE FIT RIGHT TRUTH-aloof

Now if it tastes good and it looks good doesn't mean it's good
And if it sounds good doesn't mean it should be ever good
You see the only good in me is the God in Me
So if I walk away is He still abide in me
If He takes HIS breath away I am no longer alive
 nah my true essence I'm a vapor I just went poof

GOOD TASTE FIT RIGHT TRUTH-aloof

7/11/23
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr © 2023

Anger Management

Anger sets in, deep in the mind.
Amygdala fires up, logic becomes blind.
Tightness of chest, muscles tensing, preparing for fight or flight.
Anger sets in, deep in the mind.

Thoughts crash and topple trying to find.
Scrambling to make sense, to rationalise!
Eyes widen, jaw stiffens as adrenaline flies!
Anger sets in, deep in the mind.

Darkness is craved from the logical side.
Trying to find somewhere to hide.
Quiet needed now to temper the mind.
Alone with yourself but of a different kind.
Anger sets in, deep in the mind.

Rage containment, holding back the tide.
Sitting still, of warring will to contain the anger inside.
Draining strength to cool the blazing fire.
When anger sets in, deep in the mind.

Things Discarded

my friend is awake
we watch snow melt as it falls on the concrete outside.
"well, another season" is what he says.
they come and go here - he will be gone by the end of the year.
i am sad that the snow melts so quickly on the concrete.
it lasts longer on grass,
but i do not see much of that.
"roll up!" they tell me.
god damnit.
i gather my things and put them into two mesh laundry bags.
i try to ignore a tightness in my chest
and uneasiness in my joints.
they need the space for someone else.
they do not tell me to where i am being sent
and i try to convince myself that it does not matter.

• Short Tightness Poems
• Famous Tightness Poems
• Best Tightness Poems
• Read Tightness Poems
• Long Tightness Poems
• Tightness Quotes