The Word No Poem by Sarah Kay

The word no escapes me
Like the fly, you try to swat, but it's just out of reach
Like breath that just isn't deep enough, no escapes me

Instead, the words I'm tired come
Like being asked to stay up late
Like getting up early, I'm tired

Instead, I nod
Like when you don't know what to say,
Like when you have food in your mouth, I nod

Instead, I say sure
When you don't really want to help
When you are trying to be nice, I say, sure

Instead silence,
Like when no one is in the room
Like when it's pitch-black outside, silence

I want to scream
When you are being chased
When you're so mad, I want to scream

I want to say no
When your asked if something is wrong
When your asked about something you just do not want to do
You say no

But instead, the word no escapes me
I say I'm tired
I nod
I say sure
I stay silent
I try to scream
Say no
But it escapes me