sizzling; simmering
one by one,
air bubbles begin to rise
and then by 2s; 3s
they race to the top;
flocking to the surface
spinning; swarming;

stop.

boiling water.
that's what love is like;
the onset and duration of an anxiety attack;
it'll give you one, too, if you don't

stop.

because once it's begun,
once again,
you will stumble helplessly through a
self-inflicting battleground
of what can no longer be
peaceful independence,
but an inner war that you
know you will lose,
amidst the increasing rapidity of
your own shots fired;

please

stop.


the water will boil
until you rid your clutch
on that stove;
one hand on the gas,
the other on the burner.