Unconditional

I look into your eyes, your chocolate-light eyes

See myself reflected in you.

Staring so blaringly 

it hurts.

Your exhaustion, silent monotone expression

pierces through me.

A pain-numbing act of escape

I try

and try

to hold you back.

My hands clutching the wrinkles of your 

clothes

hands

face

but my antics

have no hold on your attention.

You are far beyond my small hold

My hands no match for your disinterest.

It hurts to know the truth.

I am the reason for your indifference.

I am the reason why

You do not hold my head close to your heart.

Hold me close to your curves and let me hear your heart beat

The very love you feel for me —

My existence —

Has pushed you to your seams.

And I am to blame.

Yet I hunger for what I cannot have.

I am selfish

I hope, and I cry, and I beg

Clutching the folds of your hand 

Remembering what you gave so freely

I cannot bear to look at you.

You are my sun, I was born from you.

So I laugh, and I jump, and I cry

Draw your annoyance to my childish antics.

Because every time I see your eyes, your chocolate-warm eyes

indistinguishable from mine

My heart swells, unbounds, spills

With a love

My birthright 

No force on earth

  indifference be damned

Can break.

Inspiration

Written from a perspective of a neglected child while I was in high school.

Process

Free verse