"I'm an Emotional Idiot So Get Away from Me" by Maggie Estep
A poem from The United States of Poetry episode "Love and Sex." Copyright Washington Square Arts, 1995. I'm an emotional idiot so get away from me. I mean, come here. Wait, no, that's too close, give me some space it's a big country, there's plenty of room, don't sit so close to me. Hey, where are you? I haven't seen you in days. Whadya, having an affair? Who is she? Come on, aren't I enough for you? God, You're so cold. I never know what you're thinking. You're not very affectionate. I mean, you're clinging to me, DON'T TOUCH ME, what am I, your f-----g cat? Don't rub me like that. Don't you have anything better to do than sit there fawning over me? Don't you have any interests? Hobbies? Sailing Fly fishing Archeology? There's an archeology expedition leaving tomorrow why don't you go? I'll loan you the money, my money is your money. My life is your life my soul is yours without you I'm nothing. Move in with me we'll get a studio apartment together, save on rent, well, wait, I mean, a one bedroom, so we don't get in each other's hair or anything or, well, maybe a two bedroom I'll have my own bedroom, it's nothing personal I just need to be alone sometimes, you do understand, don't you? Hey, why are you acting distant? Where you going Was it something I said? What What did I do? I'm an emotional idiot so get away from me. I mean, MARRY ME.