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panic

and all you can do is try to

By Joe O’ConnorPublished about a year ago 1 min read
panic
Photo by Tim Goedhart on Unsplash

Reaching for something to hold, shaky hands grasp empty space instead

edges begin to blur and shake, hazy and dim as colours fade to grey

the air is thick and heavy on the tongue: too harsh, too bitter, to swallow

whining increases, a dreadful buzzing, like the drone of a thousand wasps,

air struggles to be inhaled, along blocked nasal tunnels, suffocating the mind.

Mental Health

About the Creator

Joe O’Connor

New Zealander

English teacher

Short stories and poems📚

Please be honest- I would love your constructive feedback, as it's the only way I'll get better. Would rather it was pointed out so I can improve!

Currently writing James The Wonderer

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Comments (8)

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  • Testabout a year ago

    well done

  • Gina C.about a year ago

    Love how you did this, Joe! The word choices here create such a strong visceral experience. "shaky hands grasp empty space instead" sets a sense of such longing and desperation here! Toward the end, I heard those wasps and felt the collaspe of lungs and thoughts! Well done!

  • L.C. Schäferabout a year ago

    Feels unsettling and just a little off kilter, very well done!

  • Cathy holmesabout a year ago

    This is visceral. Excellent work.

  • D.K. Shepardabout a year ago

    Woah! I felt this one! From the very first line I felt off balance and grappling. Very well done, Joe!

  • Dana Crandellabout a year ago

    A disturbing read, just as it should be! Expert-level writing, Joe!

  • Pamela Williamsabout a year ago

    This is terrifying: whining increases, a dreadful buzzing, like the drone of a thousand wasps... Nice work.

  • Paul Stewartabout a year ago

    Oh, this is another powerful, visceral entry from you, Joe...and actually, if I do say so myself works as a companion piece rather well to my own - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/five-one-grounding%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">

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