Screaming girl takes the day off from screaming

screaming girl wakes up, opens the windows
hears the sounds of birds and wind and growing things

screaming girl thinks that this is good
focuses on breathing

screaming girl can hear her breath whisper
through her lungs and throat like some new soft thing

screaming girl does not feel soft when she screams
screaming girl does not feel strong when she screams

when is a scream not a scream
screaming girl thinks

what if I don’t leave the house today
screaming girl thinks

what if I close all the doors and don’t open them
will they find me here

even if I don’t scream

screaming girl locks the doors and draws the curtains
but the boy heroes still come. they knock on the door

and they knock and they knock and they scratch
at the walls and scratch at the dirt and they sniff and they howl

screaming girl they sing syrup sweet screaming girl we need your voice
screaming girl we need your body screaming girl we need

but screaming girl stays inside while the sky grows dark
you couldn’t see without me screaming girl says

and each round letter slowly drifts out of screaming girl’s round lips
settles carpet soft around her thin legs
​
you are made for screaming the heroes say