Please Understand

Please understand

That I love you.

And though you are not my lover,

And I do not love you so,

The pain I feel is worse

Than any dent someone has made

By kissing my heart until it bruised.

No, my heart still aches;

Rather they are growing pains more than grieving pains,

For it is so easy to open my heart to you.

And that's why when you squeezed me tight

And enveloped my already-tightened chest

And when your soft cries sent spears into my soul,

I feared I may have broken my ribs.

Because your eyes, who are always brightened with valor

And sharp with passion

Did not know where to land.

Because your arms, who are always smiling with pride

And stoic with ardor

So desperately leaned on my heart,

Clinging one last time.

And my heart grew to meet them.

Please understand

That you make me grow,

Even without you next to me

Anymore.

Please understand

That I love you.

6/9/23