I kick the curb

with untied shoelaces

finding it so easy to trip and fall,

over my words

that needlessly and thoughtlessly come out

in twos and threes

and sometimes entire phrases of worthless banter

meant to fill the void in this room that I find,

uncomfortable 

and so I attempt to fill it

with something--anything

to take my mind off the pit in my stomach

and the ache in my heart