Anxiety

Poem written by: Mélissa Délalie Houinsou

Anxiety was a fierce wind,

Dancing with rage over troubled oceans,

A rising, burning air

She called messy emotions—

A hurricane that shattered everything.

It was a snowstorm,

A blinding one that left her numb and devastated.

She trembled from the cold,

Unaware the world was unheated.

The blanket failed to keep her warm.

At last, she froze to death.

Anxiety was her own ghost city,

Where she sought shelter when the winds howled.

Seeking an escape from despair.

But her new prison,

Soon became her worst nightmare.

So, she became an eternal refugee.

Anxiety left deep scars,

Hidden beneath her smiles.

Though she hurt,

She kept believing a new day would heal her.

Some wounds heal on their own,

Yet some never do.

It kept returning, again and again—

There was nowhere to be safe.

It kept banging at the door,

And now,

There was no running away.

It imprisoned her in a cage.

All she hoped for was that, someday,

She would find the key to escape.

About the author:

Mélissa Délalie Houinsou is a poet, writer, and passionate storyteller who weaves emotions into words. She is the author of You Made Me Smile and Un Pari Dangereux, as well as a TEDx performer and advocate for health literacy through her digital series, Health Corner. With a background in health sciences, her poetry speaks to the heart, capturing life’s struggles and beauty with raw honesty. Beyond writing, she is a medical student and an advocate for mental well-being. Whether through poetry, research, or mentorship, she seeks to inspire, educate, and connect with others.