her sneakers were sort of worn on the bottoms.
she carry around an old soul.
she smelled like my grandma's sheets.
not the grandma i liked most - but the other one.
the one who wore too much charlie red perfume even when she went to her factory job.
but i love her anyway - i think.
this girl - not my grandma. of course i loved my grandma.
i'm kind of shy and she could tell
so all that came from my mouth was 'so they make them like you in LA?'
that wasn't much of a shy line, i guess.
after she laughed at the corniness i realized there was so much more i wanted to say.
i want to break out into 'darling nikki' songs by prince in the middle of hollywood boulevard.
i want to call her names just to make sure she never takes me to serious.
i want her to hate it when the ignorant throw money in the air in the club.
"why make it rain when the world needs sun," is what i'd want her to say.
i want her to be a basketball fan so i can lie about liking the sport then call out the wrong name. i'd say something stupid like "go lebron" when it's probably really derek fisher.
wait.
derek fisher does still play basketball right?
i want to use pick up lines on the third date just because i know they wouldn't have worked in the beginning.
i'd say:
'i'm trying to figure out how to put you on my roster - you will never know the comfort of the bench - i will always need you in the game'
and after she rolls her eyes - and giggles
she'll say
'all you have to do is ask'
now she up in my spot
telling me the things i'm telling her is making her hot
and we're vibing to the roots
being comfortable on this planet we've flown our matching spaceships to.
not equipped with rearview mirrors.
and she runs her fingers along the dried paints on the canvas above my headboard that i long ago forgot existed - and she swallows - and asks: why does she look like me - with green eyes?
and i tell her the truth
i don't know
i think maybe i've dreamed of you before
jealous of the one who posed for this portrait
and now all i want to do is call my ex and say:
now i know why it looks nothing like you.
you wanted to own the universe.
i was content with a couple of planets and a red sunset tattooed on our inner eyelids.
