not in adrenaline soaked moments

but in a million little ways that will never leave me

things which once had no meaning are yours now

yellow was once only the colour of buttercups and mustard but now it is the colour of you

wildflowers were pricks of rebellious wanderlust but now they are gifts I happily wait to receive

stripes and sunshine, sunburnt noses and messy hair

canoe paddles and spaghetti sauce, lemons and guitar strings

they’re yours now

and every time the wind blows through the trees I will remember that first day you were willing to sacrifice your body for mine

and I know that a little piece of you is mine to keep now

part of me wonders what you’re thinking

does your heart hurt in the places where you let me touch it?

or maybe you are relieved that I’m not there to keep your scales from changing colour

you; chameleon kid,

who has forgotten how to be someone who stands out

maybe you never really knew how

or maybe you chose to forget

all I want is for you to be seen; I want you to let your stripes be bold and your dapples bright

but you are afraid

afraid that someone like me will notice if you do

and try to keep you from blending in

because it is much easier to be comfortable than radical