I’m a dead silverfish

A poem for someone who will never read it

I watched you drink water out of one of my cups

When you left my house, I never cleaned it up, because I felt that if I left it there, the cup would be yours

I’d love to have a part of you always with me, you know

I found a dead silverfish in it yesterday

and it made me feel like I, too, would one day perish at the hand of your absence, at a lack of rescue 

Because no one knows how much I wish I didn’t feel all of this

I want to be able to say she gets between us, 

but I know I’m the intruder 

I want to be able to say you care about me just as much as I care about you, but I’m not sure

You wrote her a song, I wrote you a poem

and I’m still waiting for the day I can write a poem for someone who’ll write a song for me

Author's Note

This one is very personal, and about something that I have never told anyone. Those are rare, my actual secrets, because I can never shut up about anything. This hurts me just a bit too much, though, and I would feel like I’m betraying my friends if I said this to anyone. It might be selfish, but I miss the times when I was one of the most important people in their life, if I ever was. Thank you for reading <3

Reviews

[Veronica Staehle]

“I found a dead silverfish in it yesterday
and it made me feel like I, too, would one day perish at the hand of your absence, at a lack of rescue ”

This is an amazing line, so gorgeous, so visual and striking. With the metaphor so clever. Beautiful work.

[Light]

Thank you so much!

[William Michael Reeves]

Careful what you wish for! There are poets reading your poetry. That last bit in your poem caught my attention. And since a silverfish swims in paper and eats printed words, I'm guessing the cup runneth empty and she heard not your plea. Your secrets are safe here. Just between you and the multitude. When enjoying a cup at the Cafe, do check for bugs.

Bill

[Ken e Bujold]

What a marvelous line "I found a dead silverfish in it yesterday/and it made me feel like I, too, would one day perish at the hand of your absence..."

absolutely beautiful