An imitation poem inspired by The Wall Hanging I Never Noticed by Dorothea Lasky

I never told you before

How I wrote you a note that was sent to your old mailbox two months ago.

I never told you before that I kept the paper crane you made.

I never told you that I repacked my bag three times to walk with you daily.

I never told you anything but hello

But hello, but hello

So that I wouldn’t cross any lines.

I never told you all the things I wanted to

Until I told you

And could not help it,

Until I told you I could not help it,

Until you traced the abrasions on my palms,

Until the stifling heat

The breaths you exhaled, but also the breaths you breathed in, me

Until all of this I never told you,

But once I did

You minded telling.

I stopped telling.

Until I told you,

I never stopped listening.

Until you, I never stopped.