Michelle Tea is an American poet from the late 20th century who writes mostly about social/economic class, queer identity, and feminism. In the poem, "Oh God", the speaker is someone who is about to break up with a significant other. "you call and i come. / that exhausted walk to reach you / breathless and no i didn't run / to see you, i've been smoking / too much, same thing." The first stanza deals with the struggled journey to see this person, the speaker says that they're out of breathe but didn't run to see the lover. "another awkward hug in the car" The speaker feels that this breakup was coming sooner or later as they face another "awkward" hug. "is the saddest, a beautiful eruption / you could have picked it off the tree / and chowed / but you weren't hungry." The speaker details that this breakup was mutual between the both of them. The other person could have played an emotional card or tried to get back with the speaker as this is an emotional time and nobody likes breakups. "against the leash, another gorgeous / thing that should not have happened, / gone again." The speaker believed that yes this was an amazing relationship but being two different people it should never of happened.

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Michelle Tea

spilling water from my back,

you call and i come.

that exhausted walk to reach you

breathless and no i didn’t run

to see you, i’ve been smoking

too much, same thing.

another awkward hug in the car

as my face smashes your cheek

that i can feel it leaving now

is the saddest, a beautiful eruption

you could have picked it off the tree

and chowed

but you weren’t hungry.

feeling it dying away all day

much worse than the straining

against the leash, another gorgeous
thing that should not have happened,
gone again.