Choke Poem by Maya Hanson

Feeling everything like underwater air
when I can't understand why I need you

I paint seaweed tattoos as my breathing gets faster
of things I wish would happen
like exploding while I throw gasoline on your floor
or building a bridge and starting again

Why don't you make yourself useful
and wrap your fingers around my throat
I'd rather lock on to your eyes if I'm going to drown

Choking on concrete
and the strained chant of I want I want I want
what's the difference between want and need