5 Times

When you tell me I’m beautiful,
it takes 5 times
for me to believe it.
Say it to me with the pride of a rich man
because this
is an act of exchange, and I’m the bank, with a
very high interest rate if
you default on one of your payments.
And even then, I might reclaim
the assets you gained
for my safekeeping.
Not that I don’t believe I am beautiful;
I myself have repeated the phrase
at least 5 times before, but
believing is
investing and
I don’t have much money to spare just
for it to be held
in your pockets.

5 times
must the chorus of a song be listened to
until you remember the words, despite
never really trying
to learn them.
5 times
may a raindrop fall in a puddle,
but never in the same spot twice;
They fall and splatter, knowing it will fill up
regardless.
5 times
can a tornado hit the same log-cabin town,
but each time different pieces
of different homes
become swirled up into fragile, segmented air.
5 times
might I hit the wrong note on a piano
until I remember the mistake
better than the music
better than the when you told me
you loved me…
or did you?

Usually,
if you don’t have the right key to a safe,
it doesn't matter how many times you try
to unlock it;
It won’t budge.
But with me,
be a burglar with nothing to lose.
Try and pick me with a stick and pure grit
With a paintbrush and water
With a hammer and no nails
With dissonant piano keys
With muscle memory mistakes
and I will open,
lock dangling on my pinky finger,
Ready.
Waiting for you to come back
at least 4 more times.