Traffic Jam

By Angelice Oramas

 

My thoughts

Speed through my mind

Like NJ Drivers on the Turnpike.

Each with their own mission

Racing to where they need to be.

But when there are too many cars

On the road at the same time

Traffic ensues.

Sometimes one car

Just gets stuck in front of the rest

And then everything is delayed

Just like my thoughts.

Each zooming past some to

Get in front of others.

Revving their engine loud

To emphasize their importance

Until

My Anxiety causes traffic.

It’s the Red Light when

All the lights have been green

For miles.

It drains my energy to E

When I’ve still got so much

Day left to conquer.

 

I wish my thoughts

Would slow down.

I wish they would

Take the weekend off

So I have a chance

To catch my breath.

 

People think I’m a bad listener

But it’s just so hard to hear

With all the beeping

Ringing in my ears.

 

I have to learn to pull over.

Not everything’s a race.

Maybe then

My thoughts will slow down,

Start cruising at their own pace.

 

Angelice’s Bio:

I am an English Major and former member of Verbal Mayhem, the Poetry Collective at Rutgers. I am also the Vice President of Sorority Chapter of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señorita Latinas Unidas Sorority Inc. I really love writing poetry; it’s been a passion of mine since high school, but it was not until I got the Rutgers that I actually considered myself a poet. It has been a great therapeutic outlet for me and many other creatives I have had the pleasure of meeting.

In spring 2020, Angelice wrote this piece for Susan Miller’s Creative Writing–Poetry course. Miller selected it as WHR featured poem.