When I Tell you I love you

When I tell you I love you,

Do not be taken aback by my sincerity

Do not mistake the passion on my tongue for malice

The fiery flick of a candle

A forest fire in a distant dream

Hard to distinguish without context

Even harder to extinguish

 

When I tell you I love you

I do it for myself as much as for you

Perhaps more than for you

I cannot keep such secrets you see,

The weight of a hidden love

I have lived in hiding for far too long

My soul is too old for those games

No closet can contain me.

 

When I tell you I love you

Do not mistake declaration for ultimatum

I will not beg you to love me

I do not beg

I will not mention what you will miss

If you can not already see it

I have high expectations for love, you see

Perhaps too high

But that doesn’t mean I plan to surrender.

I will never accept less than what my heart deserves

Nor will I condone convincing love

 

When I tell you I love you

You can say it back

You can say anything back

But you do not have to

I will not make you

Instead I will love you

I will love you with rainstorms over willow trees

I will love you with fireworks by a full moon

I will love you through fields of milkweed and mountain laurel

For this is how a poet loves

With every sensation or elation

Completely and recklessly,

Vulnerable.

 

When I tell you I love you

Chances are, you will already know

 

This poem is about: 
Me

Comments

Additional Resources

Get AI Feedback on your poem

Interested in feedback on your poem? Try our AI Feedback tool.
 

 

If You Need Support

If you ever need help or support, we trust CrisisTextline.org for people dealing with depression. Text HOME to 741741