My blood is on fire

Burning bright,

Tickling my face

With a savage

Delight.

In my chest

My breath’s a rattle,

Quick and shallow,

Quiet and hollow.

My heart crashes

Against its cage,

Wanting out,

But finding no way.

Like frail leaves

In the smallest wind,

My hands shake and shake,

With every grin.

My voice shivers

With the simp’lest word,

From high to low,

Sometimes going unheard.

Shame nearly never goes unseen,

But does it matter?

That’s up to you and me.

‘Cause after a while it goes away,

The fire is out,

The heart’s pounding’s at bay,

The hands balance,

The voice toughens.

Gone without an obvious trace.

Shame nearly never goes unseen,

But does it matter?

No, not for me.