Home Narayani Goenka I scratch the wallstill my nails break.. till the sound of the scratch sends an unrelenting wave of anxiety through my body till there is a forced call in me to stop.I submerge my head in my bath tub full of water and count to 20, then 50, then as long as my limbs shake as if I'm caught in exorcism.I gasp, not sure if another moment in it would mean if I have wonor lost.Listen to me, I yell. My mind is trapped in a fog.Maybe that is why when you look into my eyes, you can't see the mess.Even when I'm screaming loud enough to paralyse myself, you don't hear me.You think you know me but you don't.We're right next to each other, still in different places.How do I invite you in my mind?A horrid place with spider webs, ghosts hanging from walls, I'm running for help.How do I tell you that this is my home?That this is where I live?That this is how I live?

More from Narayani Goenka ↓

• @star_lit_words on Instagram
• She is featured in Across Latitude & Language: World Poetry Anthology published by Delhi Poetry Slam

Mentioned in this episode:

Join the mailing list to be the first to know when OPO submissions open ⬇️

🖋️ Read My Newsletter: Free Flow 🖋️