ballad of a selfish man

i want you as a lover
and isn’t that selfish of me?
here with all my unrequited love
i am still trying to choke down
like the ache of you
not being able to
love me back

and i don’t want nakedness
no skin on skin
aside from cupping the side of
your face in the palm
of my shaking hand

i want to feel your breath
remnants of coffee and cigarettes
a candle burned at both ends
watching the sun rise twice
in the same day

and i won’t try to hold your hand
run my fingers through your hair
kiss you with all the tenderness i have
or try to make you stay
but goddammit i want to