Jodie Hare

C.

She stuffs her heart inside bubble wrap,
I want to roll it along the floor and jump with her until every bubble is burst,
She is pulling up her draw bridge,
Whilst I am swinging from its edge, hoping to pull myself over it before she locks it shut,
I like to watch the lines in her face moving as she contemplates her next words,
But not as much as I like to see them soften when she lands on certain ground,
Her eyes disappear with every compliment I hand her,
But I want to sit and learn by memory the green and brown landscapes that she hides,
I like to see the corners of her mouth turn upwards when I plant
3 kisses across her cheek
I am building an army just to prove
That here she would be safe
Growing sunflowers in every corner of every room
Hoping their scent will lead her home, to me
My heart vibrates in my chest
Every time she holds my face, before a kiss
I will learn every word in the English language just so
I never run out of ways to tell her how special she is
My fingers feel naked when they are
Not locked between hers
I want to lay my head against her shoulder
And watch the rise and fall of her chest
Like the waves on my favourite beach
She has installed locks across her existence
They keep her safe from what is lurking
Some would give up, give in
But I know that behind every tiny door
she has a treasure worth finding
I will ask quietly
If she’d like to trade my keys, for hers

          –  Jodie Hare