Paola Tapia Roman

Care

Everyday I dream about a future together 

Sharing a house 

Just you and me 

Having a cat, maybe two 

One for each 

But both for us 

I try not to. It sounds bad, I know 

But I tend to forget 

Just how peaceful you look sleeping on my lap 

Dreaming, too. I hope of us 

But also of whatever else 

I want to live in the moment 

I want to enjoy you, and me. Us 

I’m afraid, in the future, 

I’ll only have memories of my dreams 

and not of you, as you are now 

So I’ll stop writing 

And stop dreaming 

And instead stare at you, 

Your pretty eepy face.

Always Behind

“Fuck, I’m going to be late for class” 

I didn’t even have time to do the reading for today 

Wearing a pair of one-week old sweatpants 

Hair not brushed through yet 

Today just isn’t my day. 

Speed walking to class 

Pushing through the big crowd standing at the bus stop 

Glasses smudged dirty 

A big old raindrop falls on my head 

Today just isn’t my day. 

When I finally made it dripping to class, 

A random guy was already at my seat 

Scanning the room for an empty seat 

I had to ‘excuse me’ way to the nearest one 

And knocked someone’s drink over with my bag 

Today just isn’t my day. 

All resolved, discussion began 

I knew what I wanted to say 

Something smart and carefully crafted in my thoughts 

But when I opened my mouth, 

All eyes suddenly on me 

A few words came out of me, scrambled and senseless 

Today just isn’t my day. 

“Maybe I should skip my next class, 

I don’t think we’re doing anything important anyway. 

I just feel weird today dude, 

Like something is off. 

I know I know, but I’m telling you! 

Today just isn’t my day”