Numb wet fingers
Blind diluted eyes
This box is empty
A cold lonely empty

Screaming but no one hears
Fighting but no one feels it
No feelings-
No. all feelings swirling like snow
Blinding bright white snow
A cold and blinding light
Lights flow through the slots-
Stop.
Freeze.
Turn away.
You’re afraid.
You can’t see them, but they see you.
They know you
Know your eyes
Know the signs
See the signs in the dark
They see in the empty black
Keep moving
Left and right, turning and turning and turning in the box
Move the box
Find something-someone
Anything to fill the spaces
Fill the time
Time passes slow
Slower than the clock
Look at the clock
Stop. STOP.
Your head flies forward
The stick points to empty
You’re empty-
Empty like the black grounds
Empty like the scattered cups
-cupping a mouth with wet hands
Hands that shake against a wet face
Slowing
Slow.
Even slower to the stop
-stop and face it.

You’re still in the box
Strapped in tight
Blinded- clutching the cold in wet shaking fingers
Trapped in the empty space