I Held My Tongue Poem by adam stevens

I held my tongue
though I wanted to scream
frustration cut through me like a knife
I waited and I paced
caught trapped in my own cage
I wanted to reach, fingers fluttering
every gesture misunderstood
a slow-motion nightmare
a sickly feeling building up
it was happening again and again
I was caught, torn between leaving and staying
I was just there, frozen
would the moment never end?
would the spell not be broken?
I didn't know
no not me
because though I wanted to speak
I could only hold my tongue