anxiety is like a fire
you feed it with your thoughts

A full moon flickers through spindly wings of cloud
as birds gather and strangely swoop down
watching me
watching them
I hardly breathe
a soundless moment
passes between
 

...is easily taken
how hard to let rudeness go
wash over
let no-one know
you've been snubbed
put down
ignored
rubbed

the wrong way

how easy to be rude right back
snap
make a crack
let the monkey ride your back
till your anger grows
and in no time
everyone knows
your beef

what a relief
to get to the age
when wisdom and grace
have earned their way
and one just looks the other way
...and prays

maybe I'll get there some day

you think it's all over
a knowing smile
a strong embrace
and
anxiety drops like a dark veil
to my feet

if only you could speak