You told me
that claims of shyness are just a scam
that anyone who states as such
would likely be lying
that it’s just the sort of thing boys say
to get over.

I’d never dream
of seeming a cliche
but I am so afraid
of saying the wrong thing to you
that I’ve risked saying nothing
which sounds suspiciously like “shy”
and is the opposite
of what I want.

I want to say everything to you
just talk about this and that
and that other thing
that I was too terrified to bring up before.

I wish I had been braver before.
I wish I had tried
and said stuff that was true
as nothing but.
Plus
I really wish it didn’t sound to you
like I was pulling some kind of line.