Choose

“You are not being very helpful.” 

I know. –But how to explain 

all the words I cannot pull 

from myriad thoughts? Mouthful 

of cotton against my will, yet you complain: 

You are not being very helpful. 

Decisions branch in perpetuity, my hell 

is not knowing: what will you think? Tongue mired in chains, 

mocked by the words I cannot pull. 

Start small they say. Choose: egg or waffle? 

Stay in? Go out? Booth or table? Mute. Racing heart bludgeons brain: 

I am not very helpful 

to you who weaves with ease pleasing plentiful 

sentences. Tapestries. My frayed response met with vexed sigh, anxious flames 

of failure: words I can never pull. 

Held hostage by the notion (so pitiful!) 

uselessness is worthlessness. I live in the refrain: 

You are not helpful. I drown 

in the sea of words I cannot pull.