i.

Count the stars
in the sky         in my eyes
Pluck them and keep them
in your palm.
Hold on to one, two, or three
hours that you and I had:

my memories should be
your memories too.

          ii.

I bury my face
in your hands
your soft, warm hands
which are bigger than mine.
Don't use them to push me
away from your sadness:

your sadness should be
my sadness too.

          iii.

I am your puppet
without strings, yet
You make me dance
to your tune. You make my heart
skip to your beat.
I have tangled emotions:

your music should be
my music too.

          iv.

Say you care
about my rough feet
            my rough hands
            my rough face
about whether I heal
or die.
I do not want to be a file.

I don't want to lose myself
in misery
nor in a crowd

I'll hold you
to a promise you made:

your promise should be
my promise too.

          v.

I'll give you liberty
to hook my fingers with yours
to catch me when I teeter
                                             and fall
to call me names other than my own
(I do not like mine)

in return, I want
your cynical remarks
your critical observations
your honest opinion
my happiness back:

my happiness should be
your happiness too.