Poems by Lauren Bowman

When you cross my mind,
my stomach no longer crisscrosses itself.

When that song comes on,
my heart no longer beats to its rhythm.

When I walk down our street,
my hands no longer feel empty without yours in them.

But you’re always on my mind,
and I play that song on repeat,
and my feet always seem to take me straight
to that street.

You’re not alone in this; you know that, right?
There are others like you.
Hiding. Running. Wishing
for a desire they keep hidden
            (but terrified of it coming true)
Swaying. Hoping. Begging
for change.
            (but terrified of something new)
Hesitant but leaping.
Whole but looking for what they’ve lost.
Wanting the world to see them
but unsure of who they are.