Neglected Goodbyes
Lack of reciprocation sends me in wails
Constrict my chest—make me hold it in
Crunch my ribcage under your heel
Like i’m a cicada you can’t wait to shut up
And forget how i sing. How I cry?
Exhale.
You may twist my heart but you have no
Control over my will
My mind will run further than my lungs can
Pump air to it
But that does not mean
I will keep thinking of you.
©2022 Vera Armstead All rights reserved.
Vera Armstead is a writer of poetry, creative non-fiction, and fiction. She is currently pursuing a degree in Clinical Social Work at University of Maryland-Baltimore. She has various publications including those in Mid-Heaven Magazine, Vamp Cat, and Tiny Essays.