embarrassed.
red flames ache and burn in my cheeks
i want to hide from you
i want to hide from this.
if i could, i would squeeze my body
against yours.
i would press your hands against
my chest.
i want you to feel how i tremble.
the knot in my stomach, like a balloon
slowly filling
pushing aside heart, lungs,
stretching thin against the death-grip fingers
of a fragile cage of ribs
till the pressure is too great
a loud pop in my ears,
and it all falls back in place
breath will come again to me
despite my great disgrace
