If I Could Keep This Room For Myself Poem by Raj Dronamraju

You, fallen asleep with make-up still on and contact lenses in
I'll tell you hotels turn me on and I become too comfortable
Associating getting a room with something exquisitely dirty
Titillation awakes those in suspended animation

If you find someone to publicly spend desire on you
Dripping all over you with money and compliments
Constantly touching your hands, your elbows, your shoulders
Knowing how to make you feel wanted in the most superficial way

She cradles the pillow like a baby
While you tear your hair out and gnash your teeth in frustration
If you would just follow every command
If I could just keep this room for myself if only for a little while

You, clueless to what a letdown this is
These few hours every other week are all that hold me in calm constriction
When it gets noisy in here, you turn and face the wall
And insist on checking your phone every few moments for messages

All I need is rentals by the hour, not an all night charge like a four star establishment
If you are part of two or slippery and fidgety on your own
I wouldn't trust your actions until the door has shut behind us
The do not disturb sign is as heavy as a year spent working a blue collar job