(You are the) Distant

DISTANT

I hope not to get you lost

In juvenile rhymes or thoughts

Though I can’t stop for any reason

My better judgement dipped in treason

Candy apple red

If you hear

But do not listen

I fear you missing what I’ve said

My cadent intermissions; villains

Willing distant visions

To infiltrate your heads

Breaking my train of thought

Knocking me off the rails

Fear of public speaking

Chill of chalkboard under nails

Feeling awkward eyes impale

My frail open heart

That may not beat

Defeat before I start

Tremors emerging

Letters blurring

Words slurring

Adrenaline squirting

Intense insecurity

Like lighter fluid on burning pages

The flame of inferiority rages

Pay attention

This may be contagious

Keep your distance

From strangeness which makes this

Entertaining carnival

Something oddly unremarkable

Leaving my art starved mind

To cries of hunger pangs

For when I get to read again

And feed this vane addiction

A victim sadly satisfied

To slip into the distant