Have you ever wanted to swat away anticipation like
a mosquito buzzing around your head in the dead of night?

Don’t you loathe how it makes you feel?
Correction…how you allow yourself to react?
Reactions in any circumstance inform consequences.

You and I have a choice, but sometimes,
our own beloved minds and bodies conspire.

Courage is yanked out from under you like a rug.
Nerves in your body join forces, jumping out of control.

And when your mouth dries up? Words become stuck
as though they’ve plunged into quicksand, one by one –
any resolve begins to sink.
Your throat feels dry as dust. Just one sip of water please.

Maybe if you and I focus on staying calm, yes, staying calm,
keeping our heads level…

Maybe then, our thirst would be quenched.

© Lauren Scott

*Side note: A young, handsome paramedic once told me
years ago in the wee hours of the morning
that staying calm is key in any situation.
I’ll never forget his sage advice.

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
Author Of The Month, May 2023 Spillwords Press
Publication of the Month,
October 2024 “Treats only, Please!” Spillwords Press
Monthly Contributor, Gobbers-Masticadores Literary Website
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK
Author Latest Release Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems
Author, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose
Author, Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poems
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Poetry Collection
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Cora’s Quest, A children’s book, coming soon!