Something She Can Feel
She was the sun, the moon, the stars and I was just in
orbit,
Do anything to touch her, I’d do anything just for it.
I thought the love would end when I got up and left,
But the real truth is, your face was etched in my chest.
Like a poem, like a song, like a book, like a psalm,
You had the teacher’s pet, wrapped up inside your palm.
And it’s no mystery now, no secret anymore,
I’ve been to hell and back and you’re the one I long for.
I’m haunted by your beauty, your angelic face,
And then I came home to see that someone took my place.
But it’s nothing ’cause I’ve been at this hustle for a long
time.
And if I have to reach you, love, then teacher’s pet will
have to climb.
Go however, wherever you say it’s gonna take,
And tell old boy that even Jesus couldn’t stop the Lord’s
fate.
So,
It’s like you and me,
And me and you,
I couldn’t pass your test
Even if I wanted to.
It’s like me and you,
And you and me,
I couldn’t pass your test
Because past you I couldn’t see.
Like my heart, the faces before me went from worry to wonder and then froze in amazement.
The friend of the girl who almost fell into my arms mouthed, “Who is she?” And I was thinking the same thing. Because listening to what Dame was saying, I was sure he wasn’t talking about me. Yeah, he’d made some passes at me and we’d had some heated moments, but his words were the feelings of a man infatuated, a man with a plan to win someone. And that couldn’t be me. Of all the women in the room? Outside the club? Out in the world? That couldn’t be me. I was wearing slacks.
When Dame was done, he came over and hugged me amid the crowd’s cheers and coos. Only this hug was a bit more uncomfortable than the others: After learning what I’d heard, I felt a need to protect myself. It was one thing for me to toy with having a crush on Dame, but for him to pronounce his desire for me in such a public way—in any way, period—seemed like a development toward something I neither anticipated nor wanted. Yes, it was exciting being up there and having this half-clothed, successful young man pine for me in front of all of those girls who were probably twelve years younger than me, but all I could worry about was what Dame intended to do next. And how I could stop him.