Berniece

Premature

I crave company

Stuff myself with it

Until I choke

Like a snake trying to swallow a shark

 

I claim casual because

love makes liars

out of

men.

 

I bottle affection

So I don’t die of thirst

And so no one says

I imagined it

 

I’d still die, though

 

If you needed me to

 

Tie my eyes shut

so I can touch you

without seeing

that you’re somewhere else

 

I want you to choose me first

But do you remember

how to spell

my name?

 

I bleed out

quietly.

 

You never asked

what the mess

was.