the sky can’t hold us down

she sorts

her m&m's

by color,

eats them one at a time,

and skips church

just to kiss me.

when the time comes,

i let her

cry on my shoulder,

dig her nails

into my skin,

place her

bleeding heart

in my hands.

i understand.

i have forged footfalls for her

to follow.

she is too scared

to walk.

she dips

her chicken fingers

in ranch dressing,

after pouring just the right amount

onto her plate-

i pour too much,

but it's too late.

her laughter

tweaks my smile,

her sobs

wreck my heart.

i tell her

we are the result of

trial and error-

big bangs that didn't crash

the way they were supposed to.

but we've got enough light

to be stars,

i figure.

she kisses my nose

one

two

three times-

and it seems to me

that we

are the roots of something bigger.