Just Words Poem by Sarah Swillen

I could force it out, past awkwardness,
On the borrowed breath from your lips.
Thin and weak, faint lines where bold strokes should slash.
Cut through your composure, leaden the air with my clumsy happiness.
I am so afraid the attempt would scar me,
Blemish my immaculate facade.
Such a pretty glass palace and you can see straight through.
I’m little inside but so much stronger than they know, isn’t it a wonder how hard my feelings blow?
They knock ‘em down and hold them back, they swing away and create the slack.
But you know I’m elastic stretching around the bend, you know I’m gonna hold out til the end.