wanting

By

Alethea Cavanaugh

Your dominance comes so naturally, I fear
you do not know that my submission does not.
Do you realise that I am my own safe harbour?

I do not fear much, and I do not fear letting go
here. I am ready to hand you my kingdom keys.
I hope you do not regret unlocking Pandora’s box.

More paradoxes: the more I trust you, the more I fear.
The safer you are, the more I am laid bare.
I want - a lot.

I want to be yours, to please you, to be everything you need.
I want not to have my own needs, to be fulfilled
purely through compersion.

But this free-fall reaches terminal velocity: my wants
become dangers. I want to eviscerate my truths
under your gaze. I want to open the flood gates.

I want to fall apart, to lie sobbing in your arms. I believe
I would be seen and safe, but I fear I am more
than you bargained for, and if

my goal here is service, who am I
to ask you to help me hold this cacophony of sadness?
I will ask you only to hold me down.