your eyes are like the ocean
crystal clear and blue

my only favorite color

i decided i wanted to paint them
so you could realize how
it feels to look into them
and see the waves and the ripples
and know a part of the earth is
held within you

i spent 72 hours with that canvas
and the brush became my best friend
and blue paint covered my skin

when light reflects off of your eyes
you can see stars

so i painted 13 luminaries in each
for the 26 arrows i felt
stabbed in my back

i painted one tear inside your left eye
to symbolize how i hide mine
every time my heart cracks

because love, when i showed you my painting
you gave me no minute to speak
you said ‘wow, that's amazing’
and told me it reminded you
of her eyes
and how the sight of them
and that smile
made you weak

i gave you the painting as a gift
for you

i just loved your true colors

two weeks later when i
answered your call
you asked me to help you
hang it up
in her bedroom

i even picked out a blue bow
and cringed as i knew this would be
our very last tie
you said it’s easier to show love
through poetry or paintings
because people themselves
are too blind

i sat there and thought
you were right
and being blind is what
tears us apart
but just as i made
the mistake of my feelings
you never realized
it was you

you were my work of art.