Claustrophobia

By skinner_jennifer

Tue, 24 Oct 2017
  • 1621 reads
6 comments
 

Image from pixabay free

 

 

His eyes wander not surprising

this gathering increasing,

apologizes for his intrusion,

still no eye to eye contact,

 

his energy seems troubled, trying

my best to understand. He urges,

“Would you mind coming outside,

think I've lost my sense of reasoning,”

 

Everything's been said, “breathe deeply.”

He snakes his arm around my waist,

flinching I feel his bad energy...

he knows, apologizes – removes his anxiety.

 

What to do? How to proceed?

Feeling a hand reaching for mine,

squeezing so tightly he starts to panic

though a man his inner child escapes,

 

trying my best to understand as bodies

crammed, we shuffle like penguins – air

pungent; as he tormented in his misery

is unaware of the deafening jabbering,

 

My lips move, but no voice comes,

Then “It'll be fine...nearly there.”

Breeze beckons, a door opens,

at last outside we both breathe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Poems
Miscellaneous

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

yeh, claustrophobia really can take our breath away. Breath, breath, breath is all hot air, because those suffering are already breathiing and hyperventilating. 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

I like the phrase, 'Breeze beckons' as you feel somehow that breeze bringing a foretaste of the longed-for  open air. And then the phrase 'a door opens' giving a visual cue of its closeness.

Difficult thing, claustrophobia, the panic does seem to tighten the breathing, keeping it shallow. My mother-in-law seems to get the same in heat, or if a scarf is anywhere near being against her neck. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

 

It was interesting to write this one, as I do find the older I get the less I like to be in crowds. I remember when our local pubs would be full to capacity,  it would take you ages to get to the toilets. All these things came back to me as I wrote this one. It can all be so scary. 

Thanks for the read Jack, appreciate the comment.

Jenny.

 

 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

you know I too get claustrophobia if anything tight is around my neck and also if it's too hot, but I never used to be like that, it's only as I've got older.

You actually read the poem exactly as I wanted the reader to understand. Those last lines are the relief one feels above the noise of crowds.

Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny. 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

I've always been slightly claustrophobic, but it's got a lot worse as I've got older, and now I can't sit in the back of a crowded bus or in a car with no doors to the passenger seats.  I'm battling with lifts - my kids tell me I need to get better at it as I get older and hoofing it up half a dozen flights of stairs will cease to be an option!  The sensations are really well described here, I really felt for the poor man!

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I do so feel for you airyfairy. I think as we get older our anxieties seem to get worse. I don't like being closed in which includes lifts, I'm always afraid they're going to break down between floors and I won't beable to breathe. Yet when I was young it wouldn't bother me at all. I'm glad I'm not alone with these feelings.

Thank you for taking the time to read and share your thoughts.

Jenny.