our friendship is like having a song stuck
in your heart for a decade
a song of loneliness abated
by company that opens itself up
to make room for you
not company that seeks
to make itself known

you know my story
I saw you watching me patiently
as I unfolded all my fuck ups
like pieces of origami that
weighed a thousand pounds each
I smoothed them out so that
we could see them
I think you smiled first
because they were just paper

I don’t know whether they weigh less now
or if I am better at carrying things
but I have taken the hands around my throat
and taught them to garden
you still watch as I write
poetry on the origami paper
and every song you hum I recognize

—m.kelsey roberts