Wednesday, April 13, 2022

SHORTHAND

The way I'm so 
conflicted 

and perpetually 
in the grip of you, 
it's like

I might as well 
be the chewed 
no. 2 pencil 

you clench 
in a test you're 
attempting to pass: 

one side of me 
says

all the things 
you want me to; 

the other 
shrinks and 
blushes pink

as it tries
to take them back.