"How does that make you feel?"

My mind buzzes.
Workers frantically
swarming a hive
trying to find their queen.

As streets in the Delhi heat,
thoughts suffocated
by the chorus of horns
from the emotions I can't meet.

Forgotten language.
Hieroglyphs
flashing in my mind
that cannot be deciphered -
not at this time.

My mouth opens
with a sharp intake of air.
Paralysis.
An infant without language,
yearning for care.

Fingers latch onto my arm
tighter still.
Body tensing,
constricting in pointless
abandon.

Silence.

Stolen words
resign
to isolation.

A sock
finding itself
stranded
post-laundry -
Odd.

One spoon
left
uncleaned
by the dishwasher -
Too difficult.

The stray
AA
abandoned
in the drawer
when you were looking
for a triple -
Unwanted.

The Lego bouquet
centre stage,
gathering dust
on the table -
Masquerading.

The cactus
perched on the shelf,
reaching
sideways
towards the window -
Trying.

Maybe all this time,
of feeling
out of place,
I was trying to force
my 2x2 brick
in a 1x1 space.