My Head’s On Fire Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Catatonic – it’s been quite long since I’ve felt this bad,
the pressure in my head unbearable, sitting quietly until
it abates and then getting up and playing myself imitating
my own joie de vivre, never letting go of the role

It was an evil pizza last night, it’s been so long since I’ve
felt this pain different from any other kind, worse because
the pain gets at my brain and takes my world away, I’m left
in nothing with nothing and cannot go anywhere

Or defend myself, my mind is gone, nowhere to hide because
nowhere is safe, after working this morning I give up, cannot
fight this terrible feeling – the lovely family party this week-
end led to my indulging in unusual treats now here I am

My head’s on fire being crunched in the vice I know so well
while it feels as if worms are crawling all through my face
and gnawing at muscles and sinews and my throat is
constricting