1035

Stress is a man
in a trim suit
putting things into a briefcase.

Slowly yet surely
it begins to fill up.
and the hinges groan
and the leather swells
and the lock un-clicks
and the edges of it open
like the agape mouth
of a confused child.

So the man opens it up again.
and what he sees inside is a whirlwind
of work
and love
and social obligation.
a living environment
teeming with
paperwork
and errands
and tough choices
and boring conversations
and seemingly impossible tasks.

Call in sick.
Take off the suit.
Light a match, and watch the briefcase burn.