Waiting Terror

Found poetry for April 7, 2022 National Poetry Month Poetry Challenge

In Waiting Games from the Hidden Brain podcast, “For so many people across the globe, these past two years have been full of waiting and uncertainty. Waiting to see friends and family in far-flung locales. Waiting to hear about unemployment aid, or job opportunities. Waiting to hear about loved ones in the hospital. This week on Hidden Brain, we look at the psychology of relief and waiting, and how we can make periods of limbo less painful.”

Here are two double haiku poems or found poems from the words of the Hidden Brain podcast.

Terrifyingly Exciting

voice aloud Mommy
is this okay? lions coming
heart beat quick dry mouth

sweaty palms stomach
churning lions closing in slow
intensity eyes

Lion encounter terror poetry by Kimberly Burnham. Photo by Zoë Reeve on Unsplash

Terror and Elation

laugh hysterical
nothing amusing believe
euphoria glee

alive near-death heart
immense relief elation
terror not differ

On the edge of a cliff poetry by Kimberly Burnham. Photo by Jenna Day on Unsplash

―Found poems / blackout poetry / erasure haikus by Kimberly Burnham from Hidden Brain podcast https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/waiting-games/ from an interview between Shankar Vedantam, Jamie Spurway and Kate Sweeny