I Am Afraid

Sun, 02/24/2019 - 22:06 -- pozzii

I am afraid

You don’t know it from the outside

I am afraid

Yet 16 years of challenge taught me to bury my emotions

I am afraid

Those familiar thoughts of failure running racetracks around my head

I am afraid

My heart beats drumming loudly in my ears

I am afraid

My teammates cheers causing feedback in my brain

I am afraid

The strength I have trained for seems to leave me

I am afraid

An empty husk of a gymnast stands before the judges

I am afraid

A strong wind could blow me over

I am afraid

I see my parents in the crowd

I am afraid

My coaches don’t notice the turmoil that’s inside

I am afraid

The judges signal me to start

I am afraid

I salute

I am afraid

And begin

I am afraid

I mount the beam with shaking knees

I am afraid

I perform my routine

I am afraid

Each moment spaced into an eternity

I am afraid

Every skill performed on a tightrope

I am afraid

The ground falling away beneath me

I am afraid

Everybody is counting on me

I am afraid

I dismount, falling through the air

I am afraid

The landing shakes me to my core

I am afraid

But I smile to the judges

I am afraid

But I run into my teammates embrace

I am afraid

But I high five my coaches

I am afraid

But I push through

 

This poem is about: 
Me

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741