You gave me a picture
      they shrunk you down and squashed you flat
      laid in leaves turned red and orange
and yet I hardly knew you

You gave me a picture
      a spectacle of light and sun and silhouette
      cold as life…warm as death
because you never wished to know me

You gave me a picture
      its sticky gloss against my imperfect palm
      until my stomach ripped my feet in half
and wished I'd never met you

You gave me a picture
      its sticky gloss against my imperfect palm
      I closed my eyes
      I bit my lip
      I said "Goodbye"

Then gave it back.
 

~Jan Brian Vis