Grace Novarr (17)
Leaving Somebody
like waging war or waging peace
I would ask politely for destruction
as if I didn’t know how to destroy things myself
as if I couldn’t say the hurtful thing and watch you twist in my fist
on every subway platform listening to the anthems of my misery
I could have texted you. I’ve lost every cruelty I didn’t even have
the stomach to write down. It’s not about believing in you—
don’t worry, I do. Olympus is contained within
the visible areas of your skin. [neck, hands
hands, arms, ankle, back of neck, line of stomach,
line of back, fingertips, lips, wrists & wrists] I can’t justify you
in any description. I could say: ocean eyes. Could say:
shipwreck eyes. Can’t say: —————————
(translation: your breaths uninterrupted by my lips.)
Can’t say: [a full year] of [...] in every glance. Every word
from those months: a modern love letter. Every hello:
a handprint on some exoskeleton whose limits I feel
every time you cross my mind. You are preserved
as a deer in headlights
but there are only headlights, no vehicle,
nothing left with the ability to harm.
Grace Novarr is a high school senior who spends most of her time writing poetry, being lovesick, or taking long walks.
Leaving Somebody
like waging war or waging peace
I would ask politely for destruction
as if I didn’t know how to destroy things myself
as if I couldn’t say the hurtful thing and watch you twist in my fist
on every subway platform listening to the anthems of my misery
I could have texted you. I’ve lost every cruelty I didn’t even have
the stomach to write down. It’s not about believing in you—
don’t worry, I do. Olympus is contained within
the visible areas of your skin. [neck, hands
hands, arms, ankle, back of neck, line of stomach,
line of back, fingertips, lips, wrists & wrists] I can’t justify you
in any description. I could say: ocean eyes. Could say:
shipwreck eyes. Can’t say: —————————
(translation: your breaths uninterrupted by my lips.)
Can’t say: [a full year] of [...] in every glance. Every word
from those months: a modern love letter. Every hello:
a handprint on some exoskeleton whose limits I feel
every time you cross my mind. You are preserved
as a deer in headlights
but there are only headlights, no vehicle,
nothing left with the ability to harm.
Grace Novarr is a high school senior who spends most of her time writing poetry, being lovesick, or taking long walks.