Frozen by Teresa Wong

Why am I 

Frozen, 

As still as a deer 

In oncoming traffic,

Tethered in place, terrorized with fear.

Why am I 

Like this, a girl whose wounds have

All but healed, whose tears 

Burst forth like morsels of a pomegranate,

Whose chief instinct is to

Freeze.

It's cowardly, it's abominable, it's downright 

Vile, and yet,

I Wait. 

I Wait for it to 

End, but it never ends,

To subside, but it skyrockets— 

The hollering, the shouts, 

the sneers, the bouts, 

until it reaches a 

Standstill.

Still, still.

And I lie in Wait, 

Frozen.

Ebb and Flow

It comes in waves,

The joy, the pain, the loss, the flame,

Gaining momentum, building to a

Crescendo, stronger, higher, 

Taller, faster, looming like 

A great beast, until I’m left

Alone, nearshore,

Adrift.

I miss you, I think — 

I love you,

I hope.