wordplayground

she shuts herself in her room and
just
sits 
on that computer 
all day long
and you have to knock on her door
and 
tell her
to come out
and then 
stand outside her door
until she does.

i want to ask you
who you are (and why)
but we have only 
forty-five hundred
seconds
in a room
with forty-three others
so i'll never get the chance
(only 104.65 seconds each, 
speak quickly)
i'll leave with with only a roomful
of forgotten
first impressions
that isn't what i came here for
i wanted to know
who you are

you were focused on
bigger things
and i was focused
on the desk
that wasn't behind me
so even when you spoke
(hurry, spit it out)
i wasn't paying attention
i never gave you a chance
i kept
all forty-five hundred
to myself

herded herded herded
i need
to sit down and breathe
but i
am being herded
i followed your rules
i even walked
part way 
on the sidewalk
but you 
herd me still
i need to breathe
some time and space
to discover myself
my hands shake
because 
i have difficulty
saying my own name
but i 
can easily articulate
my assigned number.

i need to stop
and wash my hands
of you
before i catch
this disease.