you have

smothered me
stifled me
stiff-armed me

when there is space for me
you are able to
                    think
                        meditate
                            create
                                be

with no agenda OR outcome OR product

when you let me in
there is room

to

sit with your thoughts
let them linger
pay attention to them
see where they go

…maybe nowhere

so until then

i remain here
waiting for you to decelerate
and
remember what it’s like to have me around

        breathing slows
            shoulders lower
                thoughts unjumble             

you return to yourself again