for best effects, take twice daily

I used to take pleasure in being a low maintenance girl

I thought all the boys would like that, I heard

it would make me more appealing

if i needed less, I’d be

easier, less effort

make it easier for everyone, I don’t need

much at all, I don’t fuss at all

as it turns out, none of that is true anymore

because now, I simply cannot live without…

hot tea with a quarter lemon in the morning

just as the sun begins to soak the balcony

thirty minutes of news from the night before

a full cup of French roast

hair softening with oil from Morocco

and exactly two gentle kisses to send me out the door

fifteen drops of nutrients into my water, twice daily

a probiotic, a prebiotic, a message before noon that reads

“have a lovely day, darling, I miss you already”

and two or three nightly potions, applied in circular motions

so yes, as it turns out, I am not low maintenance at all

I require quite a lot of little things actually

but don’t worry dear, most of them I can do myself

All I need from you

are exactly two gentle kisses to send me out the door

a message before noon that reads

“I love you so, come home to me”

and if you please

that look in your eyes, a reminder of the night before

twice daily.