caught between coughs
& cacophonous laughter
sits either a frog or a toad
fitfully croaking in my throat:

rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr­rrrrrrrrrrrrreg

I have named him Pride - he is desperately talkative,
usually squirming & occasionally provocative
oh, how the fellow moves
& if I ease up, how he bellows!
listen to him now:


rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr­rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrret


Someday, I am sure, I'm bound to lose restraint
after having also lost my breath (which you invariably take)
I will let my guard down, further than I am used to
slip up & out he will come, causing a scene
he'll yell what he's been meaning to for so long:



THIS DUDE IS A MANIAC!
I AM FINALLY FREE FROM HIS LONELY WRETCHEDNESS!
HE HAS HAD ME TRAPPED INSIDE OF
HIM FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER!
HAVEN'T YOU NOTICED?!  ALL OF THIS TIME?
HE MUST HAVE SEEMED UNCOMFORTABLE
- I KNOW I HAVE BEEN!
also, it is worth noting that he loves you for everything you are & do, intentionally or otherwise.
he doesn't believe anyone is perfect, but holds you as the closest standard & can't imagine better.
when you're around he claims his heart's weak & won't let me near out of fear of my harming it.
even though that's a lie, I'm glad, because it beats with such terrific ferocity that'd surely do me in,
ISN'T THAT INSANE???



He'd then hop off
to a pond or wooded area
or - well I guess there are toads in deserts, too.
But hopefully, someday I'll just swallow my Pride
& tell you all of that myself.