cole hammer

Pearl

wrenched open 
to find you sitting in your luster. 
quixotic in the sense that you’re blinding, 
bright enough for the both of us 
and you must know, but 
where does that leave me? 
sitting in your shadow, 
rosy-cheeked 
as i romanticize 
your glance my way 
while you pass me up, 
my friends supercede me, 
earning more looks, 
eyes wide 
like you like what you see 
more than what’s in my direction. 
a whisper brushes my collar 
leaving an ice-soaked glaze over my eyes 
while i speak with it on whether or not 
i should really be yours.

Panera

muttering your name
in an almost empty panera
sitting by myself with headphones
plugged into a computer,
taking 15 minute breaks
to question if this is real,
and for how long
i’ve known it isn’t.
the woman in the pink dress looks at me,
the employees drift their eyes over me,
as they clear out the pastries.
i stare into dead space,
wishing i had invited you in the first place.
you eat food so fast you get sick,
but we would’ve laughed it off,
our sticky palms stuck to the faux leather
while i manifest that one day
they’ll find company in each other.