Tattooed

I have been waking from a terrible dream

Struggling to lift my eyelids

Telling myself it’s not as sad as it seems

I asked you if you’d like to see

With a tremor in my voice

And a shaking in my knees

You moved your finger around the outline

And I breathed like I hadn’t in a while

We could recognize all the signs

Then you told me you were proud

Shocked I had tattooed such a thing

The point was that you said it out loud.

And we were alone when you stood

We were secluded in a stolen moment

I didn’t think you would

But then your lips were soft on mine

And I placed my arms around your shoulders

And almost began to cry

Waking from the dream with tears on the pillow

I grabbed my head and relinquished control

I want to be the strong one still.