melted

i hate the fact that you've gotten taller

you stand at

one hundred and sixty-five centimeters
approximately, anyway, i suppose.
i figured this out yesterday
last night, perhaps, as you could say
"beforehand" before your hands
made contact with the popcorn bowl
you looked taller.

you stand on

two hundred million-plus molecules
of the dust cluttering against your soles.
i can see you now
atop a metaphorical hill you shout,
"let them go! set them free!"
but they do not listen for
unlike your lion brother, you are but a breeze.

you stand to

make friends, make amends
and break both.
perhaps i am the only one crying out
"come back, please!"
do not turn to song, for now
all you remind me of are slow ballads.

you stand for

love and war and peace
in all possible permutations.
the spotlight is only on you two now,
"i'm glad you found me."
the audience will applaud, but i
am left in the dark alongside the props.

you stand with

me
on the darkest of nights.
look at you now, a year past,
"there's no way you're taller than me."
i pretend to be flustered, but i
am prouder than you will ever know.