anticipation is a thorny word.

the beginning is like dusty leather
coolcrispcrinkles against my skin
i’m afraid to be an open book, afraid of what i’ll find,
afraid that if i look, i’ll never be the same (again) (this happens every time) —
the flicker of anticipation that quivers in my stomach
that bubbles through my throat
courses it’s way up&down my veins
feels like i’m dropping out —

you are my kinda familiar you are my favorite sound
i am constantly refreshing & i am counting down,
i am getting my numbers all messed up
but again,  that’s kinda my thing.

“it’s been a while”, you’d say,
& i’d agree,
but i’m still here:
just standing outside the doorway in the wind, waiting for my mind… .  .   .   .
snap back to reality, and boom
again i cannot breathe
sometimes i’m surprised i’m still surviving —
cool irony that these’r
the only things that shock me
with some kind of consistency.

& now i’m too nervous
so i put it off —
my stomach has wings & i’ll take a minute or two
to chase it around the room

on two left feet &

arms that don’t reach.