To A Boy

To a boy who doesn’t know what I am worth

Let me spell it out for you in

Every unspoken verb

And noun, and pronoun, and adjective

So you can see where it was that you went wrong

I am worth every smile and every laugh

Every bright gaze and every dream

I am worth a sunrise and a half

I am much more spirit than I may seem

I am smart and I am fun

I am ditzily dancing through life

And I do not care for carrying any excess strife

Because I am worth that crease you get on the side of your face

From laughing too hard in a particular place

I am worth a thousand lines of poetry drawn squarely against the sea

I am a hiccup of a good time

I listen

I care

I am constantly aware

And ready and rearing

To be there for those who will dare

Share their time with me

I am worth hand holding down the street

And picnics in the park

I am worth pizza dates, movie nights, cuddle fests,

And dancing in the dark

I am worth a jaw dropping stare

Because I look so goddamn good in sexy underwear

Which, you know, you’ll never get to see

Now that you chose not to be with me

And if heaven and brownies had a baby

It would smell exactly like me

Cause I smell good

Good enough to eat

I am worth stacks and stacks of unread books

Because I am a mystery wrapped up in a soliloquy

Darting across your tongue as you speak my verse

You who once controlled my universe

I am worth that tickle you get in the back of your throat

When you have something important you need to say

I am worth the tree that stood in the park and gave you shade

When all you wanted was to get away

And I am worth gallons upon gallons of ice cream

That will always leave you with a smile

Even when you’ve had too much

I am worth the coolness of a snow cone

The gentleness of a caress

The steadiness of a mother’s gaze

The laughter during recess

The comfort of a pillow

Much like my own pillow

Which I’ve sobbed in many a time because of your words

Your words

Which are usually so lovely to my ears

But now, instead, are killing me with syllables

I am worth every butterfly in your stomach

When you’re about to do something so wonderful it scares you

I am worth every tear that falls from your eyes

When witnessing something so utterly beautiful

I am worth every moment that’s taken the breath from your lungs

Because I am a moment

A moment you’ll never get back

I am worth all of these things

Which took me a long time to realize

But now that I have, it has occurred to me

That I should never have to compromise

For a son of a bitch like you

Who never truly saw me

Never truly knew me

Never truly understood that I am worth much more

Than you deserve, which I hope now you know

So

I don’t need you

And all the pain you put me through

And one day I’m going to find me a man

Who, upon first glance, will clearly see a girl

Who is not just worth all of these things,

But is also worth the world

Who will ravish me, protect me

Cherish me, respect me

And love

Love me for me

And know my worth utterly, totally, completely

Because I am worth so very much in all reason and rhyme

So get out of my life and out of my head

Because, quite frankly,

You just are not worth my time