MM: Simhasana and Other Things I Was Too Timid to Try

there was a boy
he was cute and a year older 
he smiled big and asked me to dance
i was only 11


it was so terrifying
i ran out of the gymnasium
and hid in the hallway, my knees knocking
i couldn't make my knees stop

his friend pled with me to go back in
"he really likes you"
"you'll hurt his feelings"
this did not put me at ease
i just left him standing there

it was because i really liked him
that boy with the big, handsome smile
he never spoke to me again

not even when i was sixteen
and hanging out with his sister
i slept over at their house
she was into yoga and tried to teach me the lion's pose
eyes rolled up, tongue sticking out
it was too intense for me
i was curious, but declined giving it a try

i couldn't sleep that night
i wanted a chance to say i'm sorry,
that he misunderstood my reaction
when he came home all I could muster
was a faint "hi"

i was invisible to him
he was cuter than ever
i kicked myself all night long
for being such a scaredy-cat

{Simhasana - The Lion's Pose}