Open Mouth Chewing

A poem about shared pain, anxiety, and depression.

I can hear the crunching open mouth munching
I can hear it when I put my head on your chest in bed
The crushing of your pink nails and fuchsia scales
From the inside there is something eating and feasting

In you and you alone
But you are not alone

I can hear the rude slurps, gnawing, and burps
And I can hear it belch as it bites somewhere else
The squelching of bone marrow and lone sorrow
From inside you cry but I’m the one spilling tears here

With you and you alone
Yet you are not alone

I know your fear of your own mind
I cry your tears, as you own mine
So, let’s stop crying over nothing
And let’s start crying over something
Give me something to wet your shirt over
And some other way for us to this sober