The Sword Swallower
Lumps rise like Everests in my throat Drying and tightening like a cracking icy coat And I have to take a bite off of this fear Chew it like tobacco, black juice dripping out like tears For fear is an acquired taste Grinding my teeth to choke it down like its a race But it is a race, to keep from others from seeing that instead of strong and declared I truly am scared Therefore I squeeze down my pharynx whatever fate says to chew And I have to smile and say that it tastes good too Because nobody wants to hear That you really need the Heimlich from fear For its all a show, a mask to all the strife So I guess you can say I am a sword swallower in this circus called life. -anna sluder