my gaze is yours
when you dance
or when you laugh
I look away because
friends
don’t
linger
the sound of your laughter
is warming
if joy was tangible you would
hand it over
like a cigarette
smoke echoing the room
sitting side by side
feels like our own world
and that’s all I needed
a platonic love
but
always averting myself
to not be just any other person
balance friendship and
my attraction to you
how loving you are
warm and kind
weird and entirely yourself
passionate and generous
with everything you give
hugs don’t feel long enough
my hand longs for
the space between yours
squeeze it to relay secret messages
brush that part you pinch
to find your way back out of head
protect it and carry part of what
it endures
know the corners you think are
too dark for others
and sit with you there
until it lights its own way
my lips to yours
dance around and discover you
inch by inch
moment by moment
hold you close in the quiet of night
comfort in our silence
share what we love
like trading with each other
except we don’t lose anything,
and gain one another
this picture
is something only I can see
but it’s
the most honest thing
I feel