Poem on stress

Stress

Each one of my limbs
moving independently
each with a mind of its own.
Do this, go here.
Finish that, start this.
Independent structures
Flailing to and fro, crossing and running into each other.
Too busy to know where the other is going.
I look like an octopus.
Fuck, I almost miss the days of not having anything to do.
Crack. A flaw in the system.
Don't fall behind, don't fall behind.
Crack. A stress line on the top of my forehead.
What do you mean you don't see it?
Bullshit.
Trying to continue.
Trying not to collapse.
Restlessness.
I can almost feel my eyelids sag as their contents beckon to escape their sockets.
They want to be freed into a world of rest.
Or at least momentary pause.
Nothing stops.
Stretch.
My skin expands in all directions
my limbs grow further and further apart
Crack. go the bones under all the tension.
Still in one piece, though.
Each limb, dangling lifelessly
trying to regain consciousness.
They fail.
Twitching and gasping for help.
No one can help.
Defeat.