(the part that made me sad)

(the part that made me sad)

one day I cracked it open,
this book I carried everywhere with me,
to show you the part that made me sad.
you took the book away
and gave me a piece of bubblegum.
“chew on this, it's long-lasting.”
I did; it wasn’t.
then I quickly found my book again
almost like you never took it away.
I tried again
to show you the part that made me sad.
this time you flipped to a different page,
pointed out a part that had made me happy once.
I was happy again for a moment but
it wasn't even as long-lasting as the gum.
I figured I'd try one last time
one last time
to show you the part that made me sad.
you took your hands
that could have easily pulled me in close
and closed the book instead
before you walked away.

and only then could I see it,
rolled up and forgotten,
tucked in your own back pocket,
leaving me to wonder,
when was the last time
you showed someone the part that made you sad?
when was the last time
you opened up your own book
to see for yourself?

@paige.thepoet