Generational Suffocation by Diana Yafizova (Florida, 21)

​We are a lonely people in a crowded room
Gasping for any air left
Screaming for any echo left
In the 4 walls covered by societal norms

Gasping for any air left-
Drowning in expectation
Lungs looking for any air-any freedom left

Screaming for any echo left-
A room so crowded a voice will not stand chance against expectations
As expectations are smeared like graffiti with no eraser in sight

In the 4 walls covered by societal norms lives-
Darkness with no void of change
Generational trauma of social construct

But slowly, we are a chipping away at the walls
With the last ounce of motivation and optimism we have left
In hope to find our peace
In hopes to find ourselves

We are a lonely people in a crowded room
But generation by generation we chip at the wall
Generation by generation we are closer to finding that echo—that gasp of air

Diana Yafizova (she/her/hers) is a Michigan State University student double majoring in creative writing and professional and public writing. She has published articles in both Hypefresh inc. and ENSPIRE magazine. She also published her poetry with Turtle Way Literary Art magazine. Her creative work focuses on the idea that everyone's feeling is real, and she tries to make her work a place where people can see themselves. Her poetry focuses on themes of mental health, existentialism, dating, and feminism. Twitter: @DianaR_Y Instagram: @dianary26