roses and cheetahs
the more i look
the more i find
i don’t deserve a single ounce of you
i don’t deserve you.
on nights when roses rim my eyes
they swim, my eyes
they swim with tears
i don’t deserve you.
when i peel off my paint and
there lies the ugly truth,
cheetah skin, speckled by youth
i don’t deserve you.
my love i am far from flawless
but you never acknowledge this
sprinkling me with sweet truth
respect always, when i expect abuse.
it’s not your fault you see
it’s people from the past who said they loved me.
i am so far from flawless
these stains i thought i would outgrow
i truly thought i’d make them go
away.
i will be my best me for you,
try to heal my nastiest wounds
i scrub, my dear, i rub them raw
and still they dare to remain.
and so i say again, helplessly baring
my cheetah skin and rose red eyes,
i don’t deserve you, beautiful one--
the moon that shines
in my darkest skies.