Rib Cage

(dedicated to Sam. Te amo <3)

The day after I fell in love with you,

You sent me post cards from every single one

of your geisha-finger eye lashes,

held out your heart like a ceramic teapot

and asked me if I would like more forever.

You climbed my rib cage

like stair cases from one empty chamber to another,

formed a line that I have always enjoyed crossing

by forcing me to believe in us.

This insane reality that we are we.

If I could map out my love for you,

it would be the inside of a sea shell

because you and I have never had an ending -

we have always had that porch light moment

to spiral home to.

We've always looked at each other

and said,
"here we go again”.

Just like we did that time at the carnival

when we ran out of money and said,

“well, what the hell,

the Ferris wheel is the most fun ride here anyway,

and at least it's free.”

We had college budget love

and always ate the same kinds of

moments in time over cheap noodles,

feasted on dream-spun cotton candy,

kept ourselves going on visions

of what might become

of us.

We became the poster children of

Instant rice romance,

Enhanced our quality of life

by admitting that we were

trapped in this circular logic

in which we were both the argument

and the resolution.

You have always been my solution.

You have always played the most beautiful music

on every one of my sinews,

our heart strings so loose

yet so perfectly in tune,

and I only ever want to play beauty for you.

Feed you dinners meant for kings

and never give you any sour dates.

I will paint the masterpiece of my adoration

on the inside of your eyelids

so that when you sleep,

you will only ever have starry nights

no matter what city we are buried in.

We will be married beneath a forest

of wishes,

and I will be hung by a Christmas ornament hook

on your every word

until you insist that I have had enough bedtime stories

for one lifetime.

It's inevitable that one day I will fall,

but that day already came and went -

the day after I fell in love with you,

You sent me post cards from every single one

of your geisha-finger eye lashes,

held out your heart like a ceramic teapot

and asked me if I would like more forever.

You climbed my rib cage

like stair cases from one empty chamber to another,

formed a line that I have always enjoyed crossing

by forcing me to believe in us.

This insane reality that we are we.

You and me.

(published in Gardy Loo! Literary & Art Magazine Spring 2012 Edition)