um. long title, but pretty short poem?

---

i don't know how to

hold things

and not break them

i should have told you this

before

before you entrusted me

with the fragile porcelain

heart

that used to sit in your

chest

now it's cradled in my

hands

and i'm afraid that it will

slip

i tried to be good for you

i did

i tried to understand how i

felt

before rushing in further

into the seas

into the tides that pulled me

in

into you

i fell for you

buoyed upon the waves

because my life jacket

up until now

has been

pushing people away

i promised myself

i would push you away too

but i couldn't help

slithering back

i tried to tread lightly

over the paths of your

soul

i didn't want to leave

footprints

behind

earthquakes

cracks

scars

i didn't want to be your

monster

because i have too

many

that i'm still running from

but you were so

open

and so kind

the guileless innocence

took down my walls

and in airing my

grievances to you

i have made you the

heir of them

because

i don't know how to

hold things

and not break them

and by letting you let me

hold you

i know

that when i let go

you will

shatter.