Anxiety

A villanelle about pressure, stress, and getting through it all.

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat;

Whatever else you do,

You must stay on your feet.

When breathing, be discreet

Or they'll all look at you.

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat.

Your lungs may fill with heat

And scorch your body through;

You must stay on your feet.

The air may turn to peat

And choke you 'til you're blue.

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat.

And let no one you meet

Know what you're going through.

You must stay on your feet.

If you admit defeat,

What will they think of you?

Breathe in, breathe out, repeat.

You must stay on your feet.