If we met as children,
I'm shameless in wondering
how life would've been.
I do wish it was this way,
because mine would've been
undoubtedly kinder with you in it sooner.
You must've been incredibly encouraging.
I imagine a playground scenario-
on the pavement I've fallen,
destined to scrape my knee.
As I'm gruff to rise from my fallen state,
your hand is out in front of my face. . .
Unable to look to yours
or grab your hand in the moment
I hear your voice asking me,
"You aren't gonna cry are you?"
I glance at you, sighing a single
"No."
So you say to me,
"Good."
You, eager to ask
in so few words
if my knee is okay.
"Do you need a band-aid?"
We're so sickeningly sweet,
whether we met today
or on the teeter-totters-
nothing would stop you from
walking me to the nurse if I needed you.
