i want to love you, a poem

i want to love you

passionately

madly

deeply

but i’m scared

scared you won’t feel the same

scared you won’t accept my offering

scared of standing in the rain, cold, alone

you make me feel light

and warm

and safe

i feel beautiful when you look at me

i think you’re scared

scared of losing the control you’ve carefully cultivated over the years

the control you needed to have when you were younger

to protect yourself

scared that if you let me see inside to the hurting parts, i’ll run away

i think this, because it’s exactly how i feel

i don’t want you to see the dark parts of me

the hidden parts

i don’t want you to turn away in horror

but i want to show you

slowly

one peek at a time

i’ll show you mine if you show me yours

i won’t judge you

i won’t make you feel like a monster

i only ask that you do the same for me