Assure me
You’ll catch me
Keep the promise
Keep the beat
And the heat
And when I reach
Will you be there?
When I disengage and distance
My self, my light, my joy
From you, the world, and myself,
And when I reach
And when I don’t reach
Will you be there?
Will you pretend I said nothing
Or tell me to move on?
Out of sight out of mind,
When do I exist to you?
Do I exist when I need,
Or only when you need?
Does my ass only garner worth
When you are afraid
It won’t be passing
Through your door again?
Am I supposed to be grateful
For these crumbs you present,
Too little to constitute a morsel?
Will you leave me starved,
Snagging for scraps?
-Melissa Donley