Ear Dwellers

Rolling words catapult off the tip

of my tongue

like a canon

and quickly crawl back through warm canals safe and sound.

Unspoken sentiments,

too shy or afraid of rejection to interact.

Help me! Get back in there.

No! It’s easier here.

I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU! Eeeks, too cold out.

It’s hot inside, though.

So hot it singes the dots on their i’s and melts the crosses on their t’s.

So hot the words melt into my bloodstream and give me a fever.

But ear dwellers would rather boil

than hit the air,

freeze in their tracks,

drop,

and shatter.