idle

By Breanna Henry

deep exhales into thick air

i forgot to —

worship

the boxes drawn in my planner are still —

empty

i forgot the dishes last night my sink might —

overflow

belabored breaths into nothingness

i forgot to —

care

nothing’s there i’m on —

empty

the devil’s mind is an idle playground

or however that goes

i just know it goes

and goes

and goes

like a carousel in a —

playground

idol in a

playground

monkey bars and slides in a

playground

bars in a —

playground

i want to sleep

no sighs into stuffy air

just deep breaths

i want to —

sleep

while on my phone because i can’t stop

scrolling

can’t

stop

scrolling

and the sink has over —

flowed

it’s flooding and my pages are still —

empty

my eyes can barely open but i’m not —

sleep

i should

sleep

it’s been two months since i washed my shirt because i’ve been —

sleep

but my eyes can’t close

heavy bags under eyes that can’t close

a devil’s merry-go-round is an idle fantasy

or however that goes

it still goes

the idol goes

and the morning —

goes

and i still need to —

worship

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Almost 10 years ago, Breanna Henry sat in the tiny room she shared with her younger sister in Houston, Texas, writing songs, stories, and poems on the rough carpet. She mimicked songs she heard on the radio and imitated books she'd read from the Scholastic Book Fair. By fifth grade, she knew creative writing would soon be her passion. Having recently graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans, she has published works in her university's newspaper, literary journal, and on her own blog. In her free time she enjoys doing photo shoots with friends, and dancing wildly in her room while music blasts through her speakers.