gradually

swimming.
i feel tired
from all the work
of swimming
holding my head high
refusing to sink below the surface
where demons dwell.

water
turning to ice
harder and harder
i fight
to keep myself up
it would be easy
to sink below.

numbness
begins to set in
but still i swim
still i fight
keeping my head high
and gradually
i begin to feel again.

insignificant

feeling small
i tap my foot,
just to be sure i'm here
but wishing i wasn't...
ignored and overlooked
seen but unknown
written off
and underestimated
over and over again.
wishing someone could see
that an invisible shell
makes me vulnerable...
sensitive
and cold.
insignificant
and less than,
always out of place
criticized and corrected
i stand in the dark
the only sign of life
is the tap
of my own foot...
and i wish it would
stop.