Galen Warden
The Bath
Burnout terrifies me. (There is no one else.)
I sink into a just-hot-enough fragrant sea and lower
Spent arms, breathing and freeing my mind.
Underwater I am lighter. The weight of
A warm, watery blanket presses, holds, sooths.
Sensations distract me. Eloquently. Forcing No worries.
Why did I wait ‘til burnout knocked? My door left ajar.
Robotic patterns have hypnotized me.
Successful execution of duties deceived me.
I learn to use a curse word against the paralysis
Threatening the sanity required for
This madness. Fuck burnout. I’m taking a bath.