surrounded by brick by brick
those that form these walls
alone with dull pain in my wrist or hip
now my eyes unwillingly half-closed
taking in the light of the screen
ignoring the sun creeping up in the window in front of me

holding my breath again and again
unbeknownst to me why
but I only remember to exhale or inhale
when my body asks for it
and it's so serene that
I don’t want to break the silence
so I mumble low that this is the place for me

getting so comfortable bit by bit
to belong must be this
learning not to hate yourself or habit
after my imagination sprints away
not wondering what might have been
acknowledging the memories that keep me awake are precious to me

I'm not tired of this.

fear
however scary
whisper out your doubts
confess to your mistakes
into an empty room by your lonesome
to the most understanding of audiences
yourself

The pleasant lingering smell of rose hips,
feels almost healing,
as we tread through the garden -
together barefoot and vulnerable.

I won’t shy away from the prickly green grass,
then in the same way,
let me tickle you with my stubble as we laugh -
together joyful and crude.

One has to be careful not to lose themselves completely
to rub your intricate fingerprint away into another's skin in patterns,
because although the body feels heavy when weak kneed -
the weight of another’s soul is too much to bear alongside your own.

I won’t hold your head underwater in the fresh lake
then in the same way,
let me breathe when we lay by its side -
together entangled and safe.

The passing time made you my involuntary complex,
feels nearly daunting
as I adore this so shamelessly -
us together - balanced and in love.