"Love Poem"

by Katie McNary

-With apologies to Julie Sheehan

I love you. Truly I do.

Everything about me loves everything about you.

The dismissive flutter of my fingers loves you.

The way I peel an orange loves you.

The sound of my sighs when I get a paper cut loves you.

Each protein pyramided in my fingernail loves you.

Be prepared. I love you.

The crimson kiss of sunrise I'm scraping from my memory loves you.

The history of my bruises loves you.

The whisper of assurance muffled through a cotton pillow loves you.

The cucumber of my innocence loves you.

My socks love you. Also my rock garden.

A waterfall is both falling water and an obvious symbol of how I love you.

My smile, sharp as a spoon: love.

My quick responses to walks on the beach: love.

My beating heart: love.

You know how every time we're close enough, I reach out to touch you? Love.

The flush of my cheeks unearth love. My eyes confirm it.

My drunken-like body when I first wake up loves you.

Petals of love; a rose.

Moments when our souls connect, our lips part; love.

I build you up to be everything you are not: perfect to love at any lonely moment.

My shadow, shuddering away from me, expands with every ounce of love that I never feel for you.

Broken, like watering seeds with a cracked porcelain cup.