The Pause

By John K. Karpinski

Waiting for the time to open my mouth
Waiting for my muscles to be seized
Waiting for no words to come out
Waiting for when I cannot breathe
Waiting for the moment I close my eyes
Waiting for my jaw and teeth to clench
Waiting for my bowels to churn inside
Waiting for sweat to leave me drenched
Waiting for my heart to beat very fast
Waitng for my useless tongue to be free
Waiting for this pause to be in the past
Waiting for words to not dominate me