i found you thinking in the stacks
and i wanted to touch you but i knew
you would leave yourself for me
and lose forever what you'd been wondering
and i thought i'd rather have
all the story instead of the frustrated beginning
so i sat
but i could see you
and to see you is to want you
and i waited
and i bit my nails
and still you thought
i thought

i wandered away because i did not want
to break you away
even if later you would say
i was deciding between
macatunie and grilled cheese tonight
because by forebearance
i learn to taste distinctions

don't i