Panic (Poetry)

I cannot tell it
cannot spill the words
they rise and fill the neck
but stay there
stoppered tight
despite
the churning
and the burning
all that mix
of bitter
chemicals.

I can’t
control it
or beat it back
it surges
wave on wave
on wave
on wave
saturates
the flesh
impresses an
overwhelming
sense of
helplessness.

The rock
looms dark
grown harder
with each tide
that throws me
without mercy
bruised
and sinking
while unseen
the mad-
eyed sharks
circle
sensing
blood.