Popcorn

I’ve always wondered

What it’s like to be myself

Openly and honest

And not hiding behind bookshelves

Waiting for someone to see

And let me into their heart.

A guy is knocking

My neighbor is doing Duolingo across the street,

He’s in his sixties learning a new language

And I’m just eating leftovers, watching him,

Wondering if he’s practicing French for his husband.
 

Even with my friends, I'm alone.

They date. They love each other.

When you are old and too tired to sleep,

Steeping like your lemon tea

In ancient memories and dreams,

I wonder if you’ll think of me.

When your forehead’s deeply lined

With remnants of the tears you cried

I look at the empty kiddie pool in my backyard

In the Midwest summer

My friends used to come to my house

So they could all get in it,

But they don’t like to swim much anymore