“The Way You Love Me”- Kelly Flatley

I always picture you pining,
Telling all your friends you’ll never love again on another coast
in your room alone
Listening to Damien Rice
Crying to “9 Crimes”
As you think about the way you love me.

I always picture you stalling,
Loitering in parking lots and street lamp spots With your jacket zipped
And your rosy lips
Saying, “one last thing…”
Ignoring the air’s cold sting,
As you think about the way you love me.

This is the first time in years
I feel like I’m losing my grip.
I can’t say I like how it feels
To not feel you reach for my fingertips.

I turned 22 yesterday,
and you didn’t pick up the phone

I guess you’ve moved on, for real
That’s good, you’ve grown.

I always picture you leaving
From my driveway that day, you pulling away. That letter you wrote,
that beautiful prose.
Me begging to be where you are,
You composing yourself in the car
As you think about the way you love me.

— Kelly Flatley