it is
release day
a day
typically
reserved for
happy thoughts
a new book
first time reads
building up
excitement

instead i
have withdrawn
not peeking
out a bit
hiding in my
retractable
carapace

i am
exhausted
the world
has no concern
for a fool
lost in words
at the best
of times
and i cannot
be ignored
any longer
so i have
removed myself
from the
equation

holed up
celebrating
a new book
i have yet
to hold up
held up by
the silence
crushing me
whole, up
to the throat
my animatronic
head twitching
as my eyes
bulge comically
outward
while my gaze
remains ever
caustically
inward

it is
release day
yet my
demons are
penned up
i am
pent up
from holding
this pen up
spitting
into the wind
and cursing
my lack of
an umbrella