most people i write about
leave not long after i write about them
so here's to letting you go
in plain sincerity and peaceful detachment

maybe now i've gotten accustomed to
toaster-oven romance and
conclusive headlines in place of books cover-to-cover
so if i ever seemed impatient
or gripping blindly like a young baby's hand
forgive my panic and simply allow me to come back to myself

i couldn't tell whether your reluctance meant being careful
or disinterested
whether your stonewalling me was a challenge or your telling me off

so i'll keep at arm's length
and pretend that i'm not pining for any form of attention
i'll safeguard what little of myself i have
and protect it from bruising itself onto you