Love Poem: Selfish
Mina Leeper Avatar
Written by: Mina Leeper

Selfish

You were the monster under my bed. 
When life came knocking at my door,
I bowed down and hid right beside you. 

I allowed you to show me your monster ways,
Growing fangs and horns to keep everyone else at bay. 
I embraced the euphoric joy you brought me, 
And basked in the designation you gifted,
Letting me lay beside you. 

The veil you placed over me was too thick to see past, 
But I had no interest in doing so anyway. 
Why would I?
I was happy for once, 
And much too weak to trade my contentment for comprehension.
 
And I don’t think the great ‘dawning of realization’ ever came. 
You were just gone one day, 
And I couldn’t figure out why. 
I never saw how your words were sharper than the flimsy claws you gave me. 
Your protection turned to a mounted attack the moment you left,
And I hadn’t a clue. 

My ceiling fell down to crush me,
Stealing the breath away from my lungs as punishment. 
A wordless reprimand of pain,
To remind myself of how naive I was.

But if you ever do decide to come back,
Oh and gods I hope you do,
I will welcome you with open arms. 
For I am artless and simple,
And will always choose my own selfish desire for bliss.

I would greet you with a banquet if it meant you stayed,
Even just a bit longer,
To let me be at peace with your monster self once again.