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George Stephen Stapleton

Why Do you Keep Yourself A Secret?

let me touch your cheek
softly touch your cheek
look at me
that I may see your eyes
that I may see what you’re hiding from me

why do you keep yourself a secret?
upon your cheek my hand will write
a thousand love poem’s sighs
a thousand pledges
a thousand waves crashing in the dark
waves that whisper I love you
shhhhh
I love you
shhhhh
I love you|
shhhhh…

when you look down
away from me so I don’t see your nervous smile
and avoid too long a shared gaze
I’ll know

to kiss your evasive lips
hold your elbow with my fingertips,
lest you turn away without meaning it,
and pull you close to me