LatinosUSA

«I Do Not Want You to Be Mine» By Alexis Araneta

I do not want you to be mine
To chain your pleading hands with possession
To clip your pristine wings with raw desire

I do not want to be an insatiable fire
That consumes your foundations to ash
Until you burn a bright vermillion with me
And we are lost in a cloak of smoke

I instead want to be the soft, slow candlelight
In a kitchen where I have warmed your soup
Where I pour from my chipped china soul
And there is laughter around the dining table

I do not want to be a crashing tide
That pummels you in a salty undertow
Watching you battle the waves of want
Grinning as you are lost in my seas

I instead want to be a towering lighthouse
My beacon glowing a honeyed amber
Guiding you to a vast sun-kissed shore
Where you are a gull tasting breeze and sky

I do not want to be the howling storms
That strip away the refuge of all you know
Until your walls are soaked in my rains
And my cries resound in your head

I instead want to be an afternoon love song
Gentle and melodious as a prayer
Every measure soothing your tired heart
Every pause clearing room to breathe

I do not want you to be mine
To enslave you with yokes of yearning
But should you fly like a dove
Just to land on my perch
I promise I shall always be yours

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Author’s Bio

Alexis Araneta is an aspiring short story writer and poet from Tagaytay City. Enchanted by the taste and feel of words since she could speak, she began writing at the age of nine. Her flash fiction has been featured in anthologies such as Tagay by San Anselmo Press and Marbles by Blue Marble Storytellers. Encouraged by a friend to experiment with verse, she has also been exploring the world of poetry.When she’s not crafting advertising copy, tormenting protagonists with unrequited love, or deftly inserting the word “deftly” into every stanza, Alexis enjoys reading classic literature, listening to jazz and soul music, and studying European languages.Follow her (and prepare for a generous dose of selfies) on Instagram and Threads: @cestmoiallie