Lump In The Throat

By Pranjal Gai

Have you ever thought about pain?

Warm but constricted lumps in your throat

That seems heavy and immobile.

Like a scream too exhausted to let out?

They grow in quiet,

A deep aching that lies between

Anger and grief

An exhaustion that

Makes you want to drown

In your tears

But it also rips the world apart –

Your body cannot contain the overwhelming storm.

As though only air could,

Untangle the knots in your chest.

You hold on to the

Finally, a few deep breaths

Each one forces space.

Where nothing exists

Extending your ribs

Nevertheless, certain agony

Can never go away

Some laments

Never come to life

And some scars are

Closed by a cloud of phrases

You were never able to utter

And so, you breathe,

Because it’s the only thing you can do

And not because

It makes the pain go away.

By Pranjal Gai