Obeisance 

by Aidan Aboud

You are beautiful,

I just wish I could say it,

I pay obeisance to your presence,

And belay it,

With my fumbling words,

My jarring stare,

My behavior, unsuitable,

For the one standing there.

You are the focus of my thoughts,

Though they drift every which way,

I pay obeisance to your person,

And force them to decay,

Into something else,

A more suitable conversation,

One which I have with others,

For I cannot speak with you.

Truly,

I pay obeisance to your mind,

By redirecting my stare,

To a more suitable person,

One who may not mind my glare,

Though you don’t look at me,

I notice.

You speak with others,

When I’m around,

Silence, in my direction,

And for all I can think,

Conversation remains stagnant,

A simple,

How are you?

But I want to say more,

Though I know not how,

I feel,

Disconnected,

As if I bring unease,

That I’m unwanted here,

And so I pay obeisance to you,

As I slowly disappear.