Love Poem: Reading Me
Laura Meese Avatar
Written by: Laura Meese

Reading Me

i have this thing 
about saying words like that
you know…

and God it’s come up 
so many times
shutting my mouth 
pressing my lips mutually
biting my tongue

i have this thing—
this fear—
you know…
about saying words like that

in half-dredged sleepy hours
i have found them 
breaking through
this morning i trapped it
held it here
but i started to
i started too…

this thing i have…
about words like that—
you know?

so i grip your hand
and push a warmth through it
open my eyes wide
and find you

this thing—
about words
like 
that
…you know

can you taste it 
in the back of your throat 
when i look like that?
can’t you smell it
in my hair
when 
i let you comb your fingers through it?

words like that…
…i have this thing

you know

gripping silently
speaking without taking hold
please
please please please pleasepleaseplease
hear me!

i have this thing about saying words like that you know!

then…
a smirk
and a contact from your finger
across my jaw
and you say how fitting it is
this…

“after-glow”