Them_You_We
By McCaden McClure
Them
My cheeks hurt when I’m with them
I’ve been smiling for hours on end
Their embrace, soft and warm yet tight,
Keeps the engine of my heart from stalling
Even the coldest of feelings, the driest of subjects
Seems ever so pleasant in their arms
You
You make my heart sing
And you release ever-dammed floods of joy into my soul
Your compassion, a salve to past passions combusted
Your embrace, a nurturing soil for my coarse roots to rest
May I ever rejuvenate you
Never taint you
And may the loam that we develop foster bountiful forests
We
Their nose crinkles when I call them handsome
They’re flattered but something in them doesn’t quite believe it
We are the same, as much as any two can be
While we have different strengths, complementary
We also share struggles and pains
Neither believes in their own beauty or talent
And neither believes in their own worth
But we believe each other worthwhile
And that means we can put our doubts aside
The Trinity Review 