stranger

for how many 

so many

years and years

i’ve caught you looking

all over me

could you tell me

did you count

all the years

so many years

it’s been 

just you and me

all the tears

i’ve cried

that were 

never for you

through all the years

and yet

even after

so many

too many

years and years

i still couldn’t tell you

what i think you’re thinking

when i catch you looking

all over me

so many

too many

words and words

built up from

years and years

of just listening

and not speaking

words and words

i’ve saved for you

tears and years

wear and tear

torn and mended

my heart kept secret

under cathedral of bones

skeletal tree

framed in ocean

of tears and notes

gentle fire 

scalding the edges

of my soul

and don’t forget 

the tears and tears

leaking from the corners

of my dreamcatchers

but i said nothing

just looked at you

from the corners

of my dreamcatchers

irises in bloom

flower fields of light

painting my shadow

but really

through all the tears

i saw you

holding the brush

shading the colors 

into my silhouette

last night i dreamt

about someone

a stranger

unlike you

but lately i’ve also been

dreaming about you

and i couldn’t tell you

what this means

when i dream of someone 

that isn’t you

In my mind’s movie screen

but i wish

with all the words

locked in my brain

how i wish i could tell you

after all these years

through all the tears

that no matter how many

strangers i meet

the only stranger

i’d want to know

Is you

and even if 

you made me cry

tears and tears

over years and years

it wouldn’t matter

because i will 

always love the way 

you break my heart

not that you already have

but at least

you make me feel

like i have one

even if it’s buried

in shadow and bones

so tell me 

just this once

over all the years

did you ever think of me

the way i dream about you

because dear stranger

i know so well

if you tell me yes

even just once

i’ll cry a million tears

over a thousand years

just for you

for our memories

through all the years

and all my tears

will forever be

my favorite souvenirs

so even if you stay

just a stranger

i love so well

if it means

i speak no words

and you’ll never know

i’d be okay

and if it means

i could only have you 

in my dreams

i’d still wait 

all those years

like i have

so very long

i wouldn’t care

darling stranger

i’ve loved all along

the years and tears

wouldn’t mean anything

just to have you close

if it meant i could

always see you,

that would be enough

so now you know

when you catch me looking

year after year,

if you see a tear

sliding from my dreamcatcher

i hope you know

that the only dream

i wish i was catching

was you.