your heart on a rolled sleeve
sheathed within ivory walls
you keep it tucked away
layers of muslin to shroud the sight
under a cloak of nonchalance
evading view
the disguise works
hidden inside
for a month you’ve got me fooled
till one day a laugh slips through your mask
your personality seeping through
the starched cotton walls around your heart
start to stretch and pulse and pull,
a small tear here, a ripped seam there
delicate like tissue
but there’s only so much it can take
until the fabric starts to unravel, untangle, unspool
and then i see, the giant pulpy mass
the arteries, veins, the view
is mesmerising, enchanting
the beautiful crimson, lined with indigo blue
it’s breathtaking, ethereal
you hurriedly wrap the fabric once more
weaponising sarcasm as a tool
of distraction, to stall for time
while you shield your organ
with scratchy fabric restraints
as if that helps to protect you
your defensiveness is second nature
employed like a chess piece, in a game for two
when people say you’re icy cold
you smirk and
pretend to love being aloof
but a wince flashes over your features
and then i know
the words rings sour to you too
your hidden heart beats behind those walls
except now, the walls are see-through
for the flimsy linen wrappings
can’t keep your love from
bleeding through
why would you hide a thing so beautiful
when it’s the brightest part of you?
~~~
this poem is inspired by a close friend of mine, who's the kind of person who'd vehemently reject any sort of affection or perceived fondness, but would also take a bullet for you, no questions asked. the title is borrowed from the song lyric 'heart on my sleeve, but i roll 'em up' from KAIYI's anti-pop single, Crush.
i had a lot of fun writing this!