I Beside E

We want to create safety, you and I

out of silly string

a cocoon to keep the world at bay

armored with plastic heart-shaped confetti

We want to make music

so we turn our ribs into wind chimes

and hold our breath

and wait for a breeze

We want to be close to each other

so we swap clothes

and sniff our shirts when no one’s looking

trade glances across crowded rooms

and walk so close our elbows almost touch

We don’t know what we want

just that the wanting gives us hollow, hungry eyes

so we scurry like mice for the crumbs

of the feast we know must be happening somewhere

We burst like overfull wineskins, crying

“Stitch me up and fill me again! Those rubies on the ground are nothing. I’ll pour you a vintage that will turn your tears to diamonds and make emeralds drip out your nose!”

The only cure for our ravings is to make our fingers into needles and start stitching

No one else understands what this is like

God help them if they ever try