A soft-spoken presence,

A flickering glow from a street light over a bench, worn from where many

lovers have sat,

Where many lovers haven’t yet returned

Maybe it was hate that drove it, maybe its something that’s better left unsaid

But in the air that surrounds it,

The breeze remembers the kisses shared, the lightning bugs glow for every

laugh it heard, the bats flutter close above for every glance shot

You don’t have to be obsessed with me,

But you’re welcome to sit awhile, under this flickering light

There’s love all around you

I jingle my keys for the bats, I’m careful to not hurt the lightning bugs as I

catch them in jars

Keys used to open my door, jars used to hold flowers

All to hold laughter and glances in one place,

until they turn into laughing over anything and everything together,

Until the glances turn to a longing for a deeper look to see every color in

their eyes

The bats try to eat the lightning bugs, but both are caught off guard by small

sounds and the scent of freshly watered roses

It keeps them calm

You don’t have to be obsessed with me,

But you’re welcome to watch this small show with lights and small sounds

There’s love all around you

You barely see me in the dark until you reach the flickering light, the lightning bugs shine brighter for you

The necklace I gave you shines on your chest as it reflects the world around

it, the bats flutter toward it for you

The breeze flows through our hair as we sit together on this worn bench

The smell of roses wafts from your perfume, I don’t need these jars anymore,

The warmth from your touch wraps around me, I don’t need these keys

anymore

Soft-spoken words of love,

Nothing need be left unsaid

You don’t have to be obsessed with me,

But darling, you are the best of me

There’s love all around you

~Rosalie Kniffen

8th grade, Gilpin County School