After All, Tea Needs Hot Water

By Cameron Gray Rike

 I saw a PSA that drowning is silent, 

That’s very true, kids downing quietly. 

Anxiety is oh so silent too. 

No one else can hear it yelling inside, 

Buzzing and screaming inside your mind: 

The shaking of a leg is energy leaking out 

But anxiety keeps a tight lid on itself, 

The boiling hot steam barely slipping out 

Even turning down the heat on my stove, 

Can still leave the anxiety warm enough to burn. 

Anxiety never runs out of water or steam 

It may gurgle like a fountain 

Sometimes water does not even feel wet 

If you’re used to swimming all the time 

Anxiety can be the boiling water 

OR the giant pot of water, barely warm 

Anxiety can even be colder than ice 

With a silent, explosive energy 

Why must anxiety be so silent?