when anxiety speaks
When anxiety speaks
She can only be quieted by the voices of those
Who don’t hold much substance
The sound of my voice
A foreign language
Unfamiliar
As if she doesn’t understand her mother tongue
When anxiety speaks
She goes to coffee shops on rainy days
The background noises of coffee brewing
Glasses clanking comfort the noise
Familiar
As if she pretends that there is
Tranquility in the mess
When anxiety speaks
She takes up space
With no shame or remorse
For anyone at the table
She thrives
And lives
And moves
And has her being
And I wish that I was her
When anxiety speaks