I. Regress
I wanted her to turn around
So I could see her face
Confirm in real life
My biggest suspicion
That she was as pretty as she looked
In his pictures
I had met her once, before all of this
She was pretty then, but I hadn’t paid this much attention
I recognized her by her red-gold hair
Neatly curled and tapering down near her waist
Her voice was sweet and smart
I wanted her to turn around
But then she followed him out the door.

II. Ready
She is a commitment girl
The type that is honest and means
What she says
Not the type who loves them and leaves them
She is sweet for him
But I don’t know if he is ready
To be her commitment boy
Quite yet.

III. The Slow Break
words are often rabid
they rip and tear and scratch
we don’t notice right away
they seem to nibble
but they actually bite
just a little more than
we thought before
and piece by piece
they devour us
inconspicuously
like a lion hunts
its weak sweet prey.

IV. Too
negligence is a fear
that often haunts me
i will neglect Them
i will neglect It
i will neglect Me.

V. Uptight
The miller lite on the table
Made me feel all grown up
Even though it wasn’t even mine
I’m far too responsible
To let loose and live a little.

VI. Refreshing
This is new and fresh for me
Late nights out
Strange apartments
Stale with the scent
Of cigarettes
Beer and cards
With friends
When did I go and grow up?

VII. Busybody
I crave down time
When I can relax and do nothing
And yet when I get it
I’m antsy and can’t stand staying still
I guess laziness just
Isn’t my style.

VIII. The Good Girl
“I just don’t do bad things,” I said
Trying to explain
They looked at me like I was sheltered
Which in a sense was true
I think I want to please people too much
Mistakes are how you learn
“If you want me to do it, I will,” I said
But then I still didn’t.