go through the rituals,
baby
make yourself feel better
massage your own neck
rub your eyes
lay down
until you die out.
tell your chest to be quiet
tell your head to stop pounding
tell your eyes to stop looking
let yourself
calm down
everyone tells you to calm down,
honey
but only when they leave
are you
calm
baby,
rest your
tired eyes
honey,
it won't be alright...
let that
comfort you