The Words Don’t Linger Here Anymore

A Poem

Photo by Anastasia Brekerovska on Unsplash

i have a bad habit
of writing stories for the people i love
as if the words will ensnare them
and endear me to them
at least a little bit.

i did the same for you —
or did you forget?

it’s been a few winters now,
so maybe you threw each one
into the trash can
right beside
my heart.

was it too bold —
or was it too desperate?

everyone would have known
right from the start,
but you pretended not to realize
as if it were normal
to receive a bevy of someone’s words.

i thought myself clever
and perhaps a bit coy.

but you saw right through it,
i know you did,
because you had insight
into others’ hearts —
especially mine.

did you think me weak?
or did you think i was a fool?