a walk in the park

yesterday
I went on a really bad date
made me wonder if I’m better off with a pet
maybe a dog’s bark wouldn’t bite as hard
as sitting close to someone
yet feeling so far
and maybe he could be anyone
he could say anything
he could wear whatever
he could even bring me flowers
and I’d still pick at the stems
until the roses are whittled down
to nothing.

-

I wonder
who wrote the stories
the ones with the fairytale endings
and I wonder if they found forever
or if they’re collecting dust on a shelf
just like me
i’d give it all away
just to be picked up one day
have my pages flipped through
dogeared on their favorite parts
I don’t need all the accolades
i’m not a bestseller and never was
i’m more like a book with no ending
that wants to be read anyway
just like anyone does.

-

today
I took my dog for a walk in the park
her ball fell at a stranger’s feet
and hit me straight in the heart
I guess there’s new ways to meet
we sat and we chatted
the way two people do
we reached for conversation
the way new lovers do
made me realize there’s still time
there’s still people that aren’t you
and it makes me laugh
and it makes me cry
the way saying goodbye
to the hopes and the dreams
that cracked at the seams
can make room for new hellos
at my table
just for one.