i may not be the sun

 

maybe i am the moon
and sometimes make the mistake of thinking
i’m the only moon in the universe
just because i see
how the tide moves beneath me
 
now i’m talking in metaphors
to make myself feel better
as if anything ever moved beneath me
as if anyone ever looked up into my face
and thought of the future

 

charade

 

i say
okay
because
stay
sounds
selfish

but
sometimes
stay
sounds like
what do you need
have you eaten
when was the last time
you slept
do you want to talk about
it
(or
us)
or anything
(do you want
me)
do you want me to keep talking
so you don’t have to
think
about
it
(or us)
or anything
do you want me to fill the silence
or hold
it
close
(or
you
close)
you know
i don’t want
you to
leave
(me)

if i thought
i
was
enough
to keep you here
i would say
(i love you
sometimes
sounds like)
stay

but
sometimes
i love you
sounds like
goodbye

so i say
okay
because
i’m not ready
for the way that sounds

 

i have to say this now

 

before i cannot get the lonely unstuck
from the roof of my mouth
before every word tastes like
your name
sour
or a sickly sweet
and sorry as usual