Balloon
BalloonBy: Kailin MitchellBa-ba-balloon. I still hear it. It’s been seven years, yet I still hear it. You thought you were funny. I thought it cruel. But you didn’t see The speech practices. The frantic ums and uhs. All making me quieter. Quiet. I hate quiet I love talking. Talk, talk, talk. I hear shut up a lot. But I’d rather hear shut up than quiet. I got on stage. And stopped the quiet. I made noises and sounds. I lost the ums and uhs. I was lighter. I could practically fly. Each word helium Raising me higher. Lately, I’ve heard them. The ums and uhs Creep back into my mouth. It’s not funny or cruel. It’s just imperfection. But I fear it. The quiet. I fear losing my voice. Losing my noise. Noise. I love noise. I hate quiet. … … … I hear others talking But it’s all above and not between. So I’ll get on stage. I’ll stop the quiet. I’ll make noises and sounds. I’ll blow away the ums and uhs. I’ll lighten myself. I will fly. Each word breath in my balloon. Raising myself higher, higher.