if the walls of my bedroom
could speak
they would say
what a beautiful mess
you have made
when we first met, you were
trembling
pretending
the pain felt never-ending
shoulder-blades purple
from sleeping on carpet
acting composed
feeling far from it
you had
nothing
left behind
every possession
to be somewhere safe
how delighted i am
to have been that space
when we first met, you
were eleven
you painted me pink
and i have been pink ever since
over time, you gifted
posters, pictures
shelves of books, reading nooks
records that held you upright
when nothing felt right
sparkling fairy lights
lyrics taped to my face
a poet\'s embrace
affirmations, lopsided drawings
i am lovingly adorned in
pieces of you
i have carefully witnessed
all you\'ve been through
every weak-kneed prayer
every time you begged
for someone to care
every lock of your hair
ripped out in rage
every teardrop on every page
every duck-footed dance
every almost-missed chance
i have seen you
in tears
and tired
excited, inspired
encompassed in trance
with your pen in-hand
pleading for God
to understand
collapsing
relaxing
relapsing
mind-mapping
daydreaming
conceiving
grieving
hopelessly believing
there is meaning
in each of your feelings
i know
how you giggled
when you finally found love
i see
how he holds you
how it is all you dream of
from eleven
to twenty-one
now preparing
to buy your own home
before you go
i pray
you never feel alone
I pray you know
how lovely it was
to be your home
whoever
inhabits me next
will breathe
the essence of you
until the end.
21:05pm - 10/05/26.