I was livid.

Or at least

I thought I was.

Anger tastes hot

But this tasted like stone

 

A car ride to DC

Filled with sullen silence

And self righteous anger

Betrayal tastes bitter

But this tasted like ash

 

A sweltering open field

Filled with strangers

All expecting so much

Pleading tastes slippery

But this tasted like cotton

 

So many new faces

The only ones I knew fading away

I was abandoned for a week

Ash and stone left nothing

But cotton on my tongue

 

They were teaching

About how to lead

About how to be confident

Which tastes like honey

But I was tasting fear

 

Daily presentations

Left me weak at the knees

And my hands shaking

Public speaking tastes like fear

My mouth was full of stone, ash, and cotton

 

Then; a shout and a chase

When I return to the table

They’re all laughing

But I’m laughing with them

This tastes like dew-drop hope

 

More presentations, and I’m afraid

But this time I know I’m okay

No matter what happens

Stone, ash, and cotton

Makes copper victory taste sweeter

 

Days pass, and still I taste

Stone, ash, and cotton

But now I also taste victory

A sweet honey confidence

Bravery tastes like all of them