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I watched her shatter today

a train wreck sliding
in the gravel of a
broken smile
all bones and
multifaceted irises
of blue and black and green
but mostly blue
her lids blinking up
a regular tornado
as if we all wouldn’t notice
her glossy unfocused sheen
as long as she kept
her eyes dry and smiled
brighter than a supernova
but it was all pointless really
because behind it

behind her

I saw you

Invisible Crush

Your hair is tousled
from the wind
(you are late again to class)
and yet, somehow,
the strands remain
unshaken
and beautiful

This is how you are in all ways -
Hands, eyes, voice, scent

Even your stance
(apologizing to the teacher)
is steady, strong
uniquely you
wherever you are -

but most of all,
and most evident,
(especially now)
you are who you are
in the way you smile.

All these things I notice.

All I notice, I measure
from a distance
(four desks behind)

Tell me,
(not that you know my name)
do you believe that bit
(the teacher said)
about the tree in the forest?

I wonder.

If I open my mouth
and you don’t hear,
do I make a sound?