The Welting Chess Board

Ick

Dust settles on your eyelids
despite their shuttering.
Sound expels from your mouth
despite its closing.

The warmth I desire is not one you give me.
What I ask of you isn't something you own.
You tell me you're fine and it's just me,
but the holes have are already sown.

I've closed the wounds you leave me
when you're not here.
I've attended to myself like you ask
but I've done that all year.
I've thought of you often and wondered
if you think of me the same.
I've kissed you the same way and say
passionately your name.

You hug me.
You coddle me.
You ground me.
You sleep with me.
You moan my name.
I claim yours.
Take mine.

Feel me how I feel you.
Take me how I take you.
Compress my heart like I hope I do yours.
Hold me like I hold you.
Love me like I love you.