Desert Ocean Poem by Neso Onyeuche

there's a desert in my throat
circling a choppy ocean
a distinctly sandy coat
'round the words that should be flowing

all my heavy thoughts don't float
and the light ones drift away
I can't find them anymore
so I try another way

I go diving in the drink
trying very hard to sink
and I try to pull them up
but it's harder than you think

there's a desert in my throat
all around this choppy ocean
and it's really hard to swim
when I'm anchored by the notion

that I'm just a quiet person
that I don't have much to say
while my swimming skills are certain
there's a desert in my way

so I'm letting myself drown
maybe this I will outgrow
after all, they know I'm here
there's no point in saying so