Cliches
Star crossed lovers is just so cliche.
you sighed one day
it bothered you the way they looked at us
you were the sun and I was the moon
you were the bright bubbly sunshine of my world
and I was the quiet and soft moonlit night
you were the proud lioness
and golden sunflowers that swayed in the hot summer breeze
and I the light colored petals of cosmos flowers
that never seemed to attract too much attention
You were the sun-kissed goddess of Vietnam
who’s smile cast away shadows
who’s light would never burn out
even when the flame was but a flicker
I was the tiny dainty child of Japan
I could get lost in a sea of strangers and never once fit in
I could get lost in my own seas and never once feel lonely
I lived thanks to medication and years of therapy
my emotions hardened by growing up too fast under the moonlight
casting shadows around every alleyway and side street
sometimes the darkness would eat away at my tears
and swallow my pride
you never let your emotions hide away in a locked box under the bed
you cried hard like your life depended on it
and smiled so bright it seemed like an illusion
the shadows came and left in your world
some staying underneath the oak trees that bathed in your graciousness
life threw you around and you pulled yourself together
through the strength of friends and family
and then we met
I always joke that you didn’t respond to my first message
until three months had come and passed
you always act offended
and apologize like it was the first time you heard that story
it forms a brilliant smile on your face
which tugs a smile across my lips
you like to cuddle and snuggle
and I like to sleep just barely touching you
but we must always touch
so I don’t think you left me alone in the middle of the night
not that you ever would
just my silly worries getting the best of me
you like to kiss in public
and show every sign of affection under the sun
you say that it helps show me off
and I like to steal quick kisses when no one is looking
of course
I can’t show my affection in public
it draws too much attention
and I can’t be the center of the stage
my body wouldn’t be able to handle it
so as I lay awake tonight and dream about our future
one that we agreed on a solid year before you put this ring on my finger
one where we knew it won’t be bliss
every second
of every day
and every night
one where we would fight and make up afterward
one where we wouldn’t go to sleep angry
I dream that you can achieve your dreams
and I would be your cheerleader in the back room
baking you a celebration cake
chocolate with strawberry filling and chocolate icing
good night my princess
I’ll be here when you wake
and all the moments after
Tiny Tanaka is a poetry and prose writer, recovering addict, Hafu-sprinkled with Korean heritage, lesbian, who happens to have borderline personality disorder. They fight for intersectional feminism, LGBT+ rights, and to end the stigma of mental illnesses. They are a regular contributor to Marías at Sampaguitas.
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