tear off my skin
with the acrid sting of your worries and concerns

things are safe, so rational in the afternoons, in the
tuesday mornings and in the lunches and essays due at noon

it's when the sun drips away behind the clouds
and the air becomes so thick between these walls
i'm choking on your schedule

i want the black padded backing of
the chair as you smile and tell me how
you miss reading the back of cereal
boxes

i want the tremor of your voice
as you harmonize with the radio
and i follow along
off-key

i've only ever wanted to be taken care of
i've only ever wanted to be alone