am i in your book of names
do you know if i eat
like how lucina eats oranges without peeling them first
just like her father did
do i have any jewelry
like the masks that gerome proposes with
anonymity being his wedding gift
that his lover does not take
did i interact
or do i throw myself into books like laurent
from when he was younger to when he was older
was i kind
or was i like severa
afraid to embrace with arms so used to fighting
did i throw myself away
succumb to fear like yarne
and that is why there is nothing left
what did you think of me
when your eyes laughed at me
was i funny or was i weird
when your lips said my name
were you exasperated or amused
maybe both
did you give me your food then
just like you do now
and why is it just a "force of habit"
did i make jokes about your name
and that is why you seem so weary of me
yet so eager to make me your kin
to make me one of you
like you could
if only you tried
the others do not have a book
the others infer
or allude
or whisper
or insinuate
as if they forgot themselves
you have a book
you write into it so you won't forget
even thousands of years later
i wish i had thought of that
you say it's to aid the legends
everyone else will tell about us
but am i a legend
did i smile as serenely as you
did i keep my eyes open like you always do
except for when you pray
and it seems
slowly
over time
you forget why
and for a moment
you are just like me
and you know me
better than i know myself
