Fall-ing back to campus
Listen to the audio version of this article here!*
In a monotonous voice I hear:
arriving at University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus.
My footsteps stumble, off-beat, out of sync
Trying to march to a rhythm, I can’t even think
Left right left right left—no wait, they’re already ahead
A hundred synchronized soles, and mine trip on a thread
I sit. I open my laptop. I stare at the blank white glow
Meanwhile the girl next to me’s typing like she’s sick
Endless rushing of footsteps, mindless clicking of keys
The thoughts in my mind are of unrecognisable insecurities
Office hours synchronized with my gym hours
And am I the only one still counting summer’s hours?
Everyone’s moved on, found their pace, found their place
I’m still stuck rearranging the same tired face
8 am course enrolment starts,
A game of Scrabble I play with my courses,
Unaware of the H/S/1/5 UTM morses,
Seats filled up before I opened my eyes,
The warm breeze freaking me like -40 degrees.
Long assignment guidelines, font size twelve, double-spaced
Club applications due before the thought’s even placed
A to-do list stretching longer than my height
Crossing off one task just to add nine overnight
Crunchy leaves season enters the plight
with the sun hiding behind the winter dynamite
Coffee replaces the sleep I forgot to keep
and somewhere between deadlines, autumn turns to sleep
The campus hums on, indifferent to my fright
but I’m walking, walking—off-beat, but still in sight.
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