Valium, Anyone? Poem by Holly Jamestone

My abdomen is fluttering
As if it’s frantic and underwater without a nose plug
Or maybe there are butterflies inside of me
But if so, then where are the flowers?

The ferris wheel jokesters have hijacked me maybe
Or I accidentally swallowed a balloon
Though I don’t remember the birthday party
Or I would have grabbed a slice of cake

I’d say my water is about to break
But the baby is not kicking
Because I’m not pregnant
And have not ingested a bowling ball

Adrenaline clowns jump from dark corners of the room
And I feel terror, as though I’ve run from a tiger
But this snuck-up-on-me feeling prevails
As I reluctantly realize I’m having
ANXIETY

(8-4-2013)