i could write poems about your eyes
and the scars on your thighs
from the nights when you stayed up so long you forgot how to sing.

i could leave kisses on your collarbone
and make you wish you were home
instead of wishing you were anywhere but where you have to eb

i could hold your hand at night
make sure you're safe and warm
where you can see the dark just enough to know its safe.

i could write your letters
to friends you hardly knew
to friend who hardly knew you or hardly wanted to

i could write your letters
in colors unacceptable
to friends who mean the world and teachers
who need to know
they mattered.

i could spread your wisdom teeth
like little seeds across your burial ground skin
and hope something finally
sinks in.

i could take you places new
where you could be someone else for just a day
and watch as you don't try
to change.

i could write poems about your eyes,
and about the scars on your thighs
from the nights you stayed up too long to dream.

i could leave you kisses on your collarbone,
if i could find it.

i could kiss the scars on your wrists
hold them in my hands and tell you
you're better than this

i could help you breathe
keep down the things you didn't want to eat
and speak softly until
you're calm.

i could bring you blankets
and blankets and blankets because it's so hot
but you freeze
in your loneliness.

i could bring you food
because you eat once a day and
you're fine with that.
you'd be fine with less.

i could sit with you
because you don't want to be alone
but you can't be there.

i could hide with you
in the small cavities of your chemistry
and we could make a star
together.

i could wrap my arms around you
hold you tight
never let you go

i could do all of these things if you were anyone else
and i would
because no one else will
but i can't.

and you can't make it alone.