Don’t Let Me

I can see you standing close by,
wondering if there is anything you can do,
looking me over with a critical eye,
imagining how it’d go, if this were you.

You say it’s time to double down
or maybe it’s time to leave
— you say it’s time to sink or swim,
instead, I’m gonna learn how to breathe.
I’ll stay where it’s safe here,
where you’ll never tell me what I lack —
I’ll stay underwater here,
so don’t let me hold you back.

I know you think you’d do it better than me.
I know you think you’d have an easier time.
I know you think you’ve got it more handled than I do;
I know you think I just ‘shouldn’t mind’.

You say it’s time to double down
or maybe it’s time to leave
— you say it’s time to sink or swim,
instead, I’m gonna learn how to breathe.
I’ll stay where it’s safe here,
where you’ll never tell me what I lack —
I’ll stay underwater here,
so don’t let me hold you back.

I can tell you talk about me when I’m not around.
I can tell you think it’s my fault when I drown.

You say it’s time to double down
or maybe it’s time to leave
— you say it’s time to sink or swim,
instead, I’m gonna learn how to breathe.
I’ll stay where it’s safe here,
where you’ll never tell me what I lack —
I’ll stay underwater here,
so don’t let me hold you back.

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About Catastrophe Jones

Wretched word-goblin with enough interests that they're not particularly awesome at any of them. Terrible self-esteem and yet prone to hilarious bouts of hubris. Full of the worst flavors of self-awareness. Owns far too many craft supplies. Will sing to you at the slightest provocation.
This entry was posted in Love Poems, On Depression, Poetry, Songwriting. Bookmark the permalink.

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