Poem: Dating As a Storm

You like to fall in love with girls

Who read Andrea Gibson poems

You like how they scare you 

How many rings they seem to own

And how much they know the names for

Whatever they’re feeling

You don’t have space for their feelings

But you pretend you do

Or at least you truly hoped you did 

You loved trying to catch light 

From the kaleidoscope in your palm

And hold it tightly clinched in your pocket

Wanting it to live there until

You made it to the darkness of your room

Their light didn’t travel well 

It shined too much on everyone

And you promised

If she would let you love her well

You’d hold her in the palm of your hand without squeezing

You had a habit of making promises you 

Just had no real ability to keep 

What’s the word for that feeling

Guilt or possession?

You only know action words

Like take hold and covet 

Is that a feeling or a sound 

You only worship in the temporary 

It’s the only way you’ve been taught

On Sundays 

And Wednesdays

Always in ceremony 

You crave the way their whirlwind 

Rustles through the Wool over your eyes

Until it feels like you can almost see

Maybe