I wish you made me act foolishly.
That you'd look my way and I'd stammer and sway
I'd turn red as a beet or stare at my feet
Some reaction endearing but indiscreet
just something to give me away.

Yet, leave it to me to be far from obvious.
I don't giggle or gawk, or slip when I talk  
at no floor I stare, I don't twirl my hair
the truth, I fear, I'll never share
for my feelings I tightly lock.  

Frankly, this dichotomy is tortuous.
Inside I'm bubbles full to burst, lovesick poems poorly versed
Yet outside I'm a casual grin, aptly concealing all within
Please, happy heart betray stoic skin
because secret crushes are the worst.

But if I were to open up and the butterflies had their way
I'd look you right in the eyes and these words I'd say:

You're one of my favourite people
and I enjoy your company.
You make my smile genuine
and you let me just be me.

And if I had the courage of 100 men...or women (let's be fair)
I'd move a little closer and these truths I'd lay bare:

I like your mind next to mine.
and our friendship I adore
but I want our hands intertwined
and for us to be something more.

And then at that point, I'd be remiss
if I didn't end with a kiss.

Yet, as of right now, I'm not so bold
so these feelings, well, they go untold.
But someday the truth you'll see
even without me acting foolishly.

"Come on, little fish, you have to leave the pond."
"But it's scary out there."
"You'll never learn if you stay in a puddle."
"But I don't know if I'm ready."
"No one ever is."
"But then how-"
"Your journey awaits."
"But-"
"Though you may be small, you're strong. And you've known all along
that someday you'd have to go- to sea to see and live and grow.
We love you here, but you shouldn't stay, believe in yourself and say-"
"Ok."

here again
when will I learn
when will I learn not to fly too close to the sun
it's so bright
so warm, so, so warm
singeing, suffocating
I finally feel
I can breathe  
with open arms, I'm flying
higher, they cheer me higher
into the sky
it's lonely in the heavens
but it's fine
it's fine when you want to burn