I Want You to Do It For Me

Anisha Narain

You asked to walk me home
so I wouldn’t sleep on the sidewalk.
I don’t know how much or if

you even love me. I said yes
so I could pretend that you do—
love me, that is.

I said yes because I only want
your arm to use in the tug of war
against the morning. You have such

a big heart, I repeat to myself.
You’re the one walking me home
when nobody else would.

You don’t come inside because I tell you
not to. If you did, you would’ve stood awkwardly
beside my bedroom door with a glass of water.

I’ll get my own water,
even when my only thought is how much
I want you to do it for me.