If You Really Knew Me

If You Really Knew Me

By Erin L George

 

Note: MTV just premiered a new show called “If You Really Knew Me.” This poem was inspired by the show. Check it out!

 

If you really knew me

you’d know I have an escape plan

complete with a pistol

I will buy from the man up the road

whose billboard boasts

of our right to bear arms.

 

He hung himself in his garage

before he ever had a chance to live.

People still say hello

on a Facebook page gone stale.

 

If you really knew me

you’d know my heart is broken

like her mirror I stole

and buried in the backyard

under the pine tree

we carved our names in.

 

She never noticed it missing.

 

If you really knew me

you’d know I’ve been in love

more than once, with more than one

person at the same time

and fought with myself

over who to chose.

 

He divided his time between

two wives and children who waited

at the door to greet him;

“Daddy, Daddy! Hi!”

 

If you really knew me

you’d know the slightest whiff of beer

makes my nose flare

and I can still see him -

tripping over words

and promises.

 

She looked the other way.

 

If you really knew me

you’d know I’m afraid to believe

in a God whom I’m sure

would judge me -

knowing I’d be compelled

to face my enemy.

 

He never missed mass

but described himself as

a “recovering Catholic”

when people asked.

 

If you really knew me

you’d know I can’t look in the mirror

but when I must,

I can’t look away;

Overtly aware of something so deep

buried in the bronze of my eye.

 

She wears designer sunglasses.

Reviews

[Dane Osborne]

I quit watching MTV when they cancelled "Beavis & Butt-Head" and stopped playing Marilyn Manson videos, so that was some time back. But this was a savage and probing piece of art, a removal of the layers that people put on to protect themselves only to reveal sobbing monstrous little children who are scared shitless at such a weird existence. I think this one of my favorites out of your work. Kudos and well done:)

[Erin Lee]

lol. my kids watch it. it just happened to be on and i caught it....

[Wicahpi]

Don't know of this show, nor watch MTV unless Bret is going to be on.
This is an awesome poem though, for not even knowing what the show
consisted of. This seemingly talks about a double life; I like the part
about the mirror buried under the pine :) It's hard to lead a double life.
Well done !!