studying the stars

You're chasing after me again,

Like I'm a shooting star and I can hear your footsteps 

before I see your face pasted

with grins and smiles, I don't understand.

When you lock your calloused pinky in mine

I think time stops. Because all I can hear

is your rapid heartbeat—thump, thump—

against my palm, and the sweat beading on my neck.

Your frantic kisses feel like words

In a language I haven't learned yet,

When I collapse back in bed all I can do is

trace the places you kissed tattoos. 

All the desperate excuses, what do they mean?

I keep asking myself why,

why do you look at me

like you can communicate whole worlds?

Why do you smile lopsidedly 

as if you're saying i love you,

When I know I must be translating it all wrong,

How could you ever love me?

Then you're back to chasing me,

Catching my hand in hidden alcoves,

Kissing me away from prying eyes,

And grinning like I'm the one you want to learn.