The jarring
white page laughs,
mocking my frustration.
I keep deleting efforts, but
I need to cover its face.

I reach for a tiny thread
to wedge between my gums
and wrap around my teeth.
I’ll pull something from my head,

anything to stop the empty stare.
I quickly yank the thread, like ripping
off a Band-Aid, because sudden
pain is better than

a slow

torture.