"Iknow you," I'll say

when you have
gathered up your cheeksand
shone off those picket-fence teeth to
combat my conscious eyes: alertand aware

             and so youproceed
                                    to inform meof your EnigmaticQualities
     
                                       1by 1 by 1 by 1 by 1 by 1 by 1 by 1

how you do not need to knowme
               
                                    ...nor him nor her nor she nor he

a 12-foot explanation on
      the fear ofintimacy that is only what you used to be

and explain to me(further)
                                 without looking in my eyes

that some things you need, you keep just foryourself
         but how howhow
                it runs       much       deeper than that with me

                                                                                    for i am
                                                                 one of the best girls
                                                                         you neverhad
                                                         and now maybe i am one
                                     who no longer deserves your respect
                                                    because iforgave his abuses

while you claimed yourself exempt
your hands neverdripping,
                                             neverdirtied in thelight
                                             wheresomeone else mightsee
                                             thatyou know well how it is tobe

                                                                                                            frightened.


                                                                    sometimes the resentment
                                                               spews out your eyes,honey
                                                          when you just don't want to see
                                                          how different your life couldbe
                                                   if you picked up a pocket dictionary
                                                               and looked up two words...

                                                                                                      spine

                                                                                                         and

                                                                                                 sincerity.