I like the curves of your shoulders and the strength in your spine.
I like the softness in your lips but the roughness in your hands.
I like the sparkle in your eyes and the sarcasm in your smile.

I like the pieces of you that you hide away under layers of thick skin.
The sadness you try to hide when you bite your lip and look left.
The laughter you feel when you shake your head and glance down.
The irritations you know when you roll your eyes up and to the right.

I like those things more than you'll ever know. But the things I love about you could never be explained in poetry.

"This poem,"
She says,
Her words a waterfall I could fall asleep to
And never hope to dream of sunlight brighter than.
"It is so sweet,"
The word rolls off her tongue and onto mine,
Strawberries and coconuts and paradise.
"She must be very special."

But those eyes,
Ah,
I live for those eyes.

this poem
is not about you

even though
your spirit is in every word
your voice sounds strong
in the halls of my mind
telling me things
I am now sure
I want to know

this poem is
about me

trying to understand
you