I love you even though there’s poop on the couch
and you yelled at me to clean it up
I love you even though I thought we would be something big by now
instead our life got smaller
shrinking its orbit until
it’s just you and me and our ancillary planets
which is the moon and which is the sun?
only time will tell
perhaps in waiting for the metaphoric revelation
we are the stars I always wanted us to be
I love you while the lilies bloom
and the weeds go to seed
high above my head
making much more work for us
next season and the season after that
I love you holding a 3 a.m. tummy twisting child
I love you afraid
I love you when intimacy is too much to bear
I love you even though I have been confused by
long dark rides
risky business
convoluting love’s mistakes with your inestimable value
here is a list of this real love:
not sleeping
broken toes
wailing and wanting
another muscle gone cramped up into a black hole of pain
you: make music with me
me: make time for me
here is the rest of it:
a goldfinch bobbing on the tickseed
bursts of secret humor
little presents from grimy hands
refusing to sell the gear because someday
someday
you: i am funny
me: i know
