When my jaw revolted,
it held my mouth open
and I swallowed down shower water.
The yawn caught in my throat
and tangled around the cry
for help.
I danced with seconds and anxiety,
and my muscles held my jaw tight
like a small child at the doctor’s office.
Ran my hand over the edge of my jaw-
over and over in a hypnotic rhythm,
until I coaxed it to let go.
Poetic Trials 