Boom.

Totally get this one too, Linda!

The best of it is, that they think they are the only ones waiting for it to explode, yet little do they know that sometimes, we don't even know ourselves when it will happen.

James is right about your title, it is a great word to draw readers in, because we wonder what the boom is for, and what it represents, it creates a scene in your mind where something has exploded and our curiosity makes us come to find out what!

I think a point I took away from this poem, is a reality I feel, where people often do exactly as you described here:

Everyone gives me the side-eye,
squinting,
shrinking away,
wondering.

- yet I ask myself why? And why no one ever tries to stop it before it happens, and instead they just assume it will happen at sometimes and do not try to prevent it.

Great poem! Short but holds a great deal of power!

I love this for so many reasons, First I love what it is seems like you wrote and the is onomatopoeia. you are showing the scene well here I believe you are showing many different emotions within the piece, but anger seems to be at the for front here. The beginning of each stanza holds great imagery and emotion.

You are a balloon so that means you are blowing up more and more and the emotions within yourself are rising. and at anytime you could explode, and when you do everyone should watch out. People are judging you for the way you are reacting but it doesn't matter what people think.

I love how you put the question towards the end, almost like you don't even know yourself what will happen. emotions always seem to ebb and flow, but we feel what is inside the most. overall this poem may be short but it holds an impact that I am sure that a lot of people can relate, 5/5