Like from Agnes & Hilda by Patricia Taxxon

I know I’m bad at this
I didn’t have much practice
I had a flash card deck, but I left it in my desk last friday
I know I sound obnoxious
I’m doing classes on this
We’ve waded past the place my tests and papers tell me what to say

We sit together after school
I don’t talk much, I can’t sit still, you seem to be cool with that
Ah, we eat together after two
Our moms both make the same lunch every day, and it rules

I’m not supposed to say I love you...
But it sounds kinda weird when I say I like you, too

I’m not supposed to say I need you
But it sounds kinda weird when I say I want you, too

Somehow, you cost me
So little energy, you...
Just don’t expect the same things of me as I’m told by my behavioral aids
But in speech therapy they...
They seem so proud of me, they...
Gave me three comic books and sweets from my incentive yesterday!

We lie together every afternoon
I talk a lot more now, a lot about myself, but you know you can do that too
Adrift at sea, we rest upon each other’s coats
I feel a lot of things, but for this I feel the most

I’m not supposed to say I love you...
But it sounds kinda weird when I say I like you, too

I’m not supposed to say I need you
But it sounds kinda weird when I say I want you, too

• Experimental
• Santa Cruz