promises are for pinning down, like dried butterflies.

it’s 4am & i can’t sleep
because you’re stuck in my head —
looping in circles & making me sea sick.

i chase you around my mind
with a butterfly net
for over an hour and a half & counting
all our secrets left unspoken
slip between my fingers like smoke
disappear like the days
despite
the time we tried
to hold clock hands still.

my biggest problem is
with keeping promises;
i lock them in the basement but
they always escape
with the point to prove me wrong;

like the time i left & said
i’d never see you again —
i wanted to be right & i almost was

except

for every single night
& in my every dream.