I can turn you into poetry,
But I cannot make you love me.

I stood in the February snow
the freezing sleet
no boots
no coat
Steam wafting off my fury

My father read the lie
two hundred yards away
and walking toward me

So I owned it
told it
With a snarl
Without a flinch
Both knowing

I held my ground before him
and wore the red of his hand
on my face for a week

You tell yourself every day "tomorrow, he'll love me"
But tomorrow's a relative term

I thought I saw you yesterday
Just walking down the street
But it was only someone who looked like you

I thought I felt you last night
Hugging me close so I wasn't afraid
But it was only a dream that I soon woke from

I thought I heard you this morning
Calling my name from the kitchen
But it was only my sister using a funny voice

I thought you were with me just now
Telling me everything would be okay
But it was only the thoughts inside my own head
Missing you

I'm scraping together the leftovers of your laughter
Gathering the scraps of your smiles
I'm savoring the after taste of your name
I'm still hugging you in December

i didn't know
who I was
and who
i wanted
to be

until you
came—

now all i
wanted
is to be
somebody
to you.

Let's go play a game
I'll be it and and follow you everywhere
But I'll never win this game of tag
Let's go sing a song
One only I know the lyrics to
And I'll sing it to you from the corner in the back
Let's go watch the stars
And make thousands of wishes
Ones we know won't come true
Let's look into each other's eye's
And pretend you mean it when you say
I love you