Love Poem: Don'T Look At Me
Clare Maceda Avatar
Written by: Clare Maceda

Don'T Look At Me

I’m trying to remember how to breathe.
There’s this emptiness, this feeling this this this
Don’t look at me, because I can feel your lips on mine
when you’re halfway across the room.
I don’t fully recognize what it means to be here.
It feels the same but I can’t remember 
what it feels like to lay in this bed,
to have your hands choking my stomach
and the sound of your breath.
Your form in front of me, looming
Your heart in my hands, I’m sorry I dropped it.
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
Buy me a sandwich and swallow my smoke.
It smells like Brainscan in here and I feel seventeen. 
I’m not seventeen.
I’m older but these hands are that of a child
and she doesn’t know why she can’t sleep. 
She’s trying to find out why she doesn’t feel girly. 
I’m not a girl, I’m a woman. 
I’m smarter than you think I am.
I’m more than these burns on my hand 
from the heat of your repression
What do you want for lunch?
Please say it’s me.
I hate your hair like that. Can I touch it?
Get away from me, I want you right here. 
I wanna put my hand on your back
and pretend I know where the pain comes from.
I’m gonna keep trying.
Please tell me to stop.
Please, please stop looking at me.