By: Amanda Trujillo

Exhaustion besieges my eyelids,
first the drought
officers settle into the
wedges
of my eye sockets.
….…The less-than
….…spaces,
….…that embrace my
nasal bones.
Close behind, is the cargo
deputy with an ample
load for my eyelids.

Fatigue loiters
in the pepper-jack
and guacamole —
accessories that escorted my
grilled cheese sandwich.

Stress,
plants itself in the hyper-active
rhomboid muscles on the right
side of my back. They ache,
like the sea receding.

…….The culprit,
…….of such invasions upon my –
…….sewing, poetry writing,
…….day-dreaming, zucchini bread-eating
…….time –
….…….occupies a
….…….zippered
….…….knapsack.

The drought officers
become bored with my
eyes and find new
turf to conquer,
….…….my chapped lips.

I want to scream,
but instead my
fingers
….…..fall victim to frostbite,
….…..exposed to countless
….…..air-conditioned hours
….…..spent in an icebox someone
….…..calls a computer lab;
….…..chained to a faux-mahogany
….…….square.