a warm liquid rush in my chest
my muscles my lungs my esophagus
making my heart beat til it hurts

a warm liquid that tries to leak
out the sides of my mouth
dripping fears onto the table cloth
a mess i can't clean up
with napkins or paper towels

a warm liquid staining like red wine
the walls and faces
both inside and out
i can't let it out
but all i'm doing
is patching the holes with a smile

a warm liquid denser than water
denser than ink and graphite and blood and death
but i have only seen a few drops

a warm liquid corrosive and persistent
thriving is stomach acid
and the unseen corners of crowded rooms
waiting to melt and rot away whatever it touches
exposed surface, vulnerable material

a warm liquid welling up inside
i am too weak to ignore
too weak to say go away
there are no leaks
you can't get out
you are too small
you are not there
because you are right
there