Fairytales, or maybe Hollywood,
Have us expecting
Grand gestures of romance
Like universe-traversing declarations
Of undying infinite love
Or gravity defying stunts
Displaying unutterable sentiments
Of all-encompassing passion
Or no-amount-of-money-is-too-much bling
Presenting the most ornate emblem
Of breath-stealing desire.

Or even a simple poem
Attempting to put into tangibility
A deep souls-stitching, time-surpassing love.

You've to come to expect these
Or something matching in intensity.
But I have none of those for you.

Not even as a poet
Have I found the better words
To beat the three
Whose sound
Is what we all long to hear.

I say them
At sunset
When your head slips onto my shoulder
As we watch the stars rise into the sky
And your breath steadies and slows
Into slumber
And I know there is no other place for me now
For I belong only where you are.

I say them
At sunrise
When your lips graze mine
Before you tumble out of bed
In preparation for your day
And I watch through slatted eyelids
And I know there is no way for me to survive
For you hold the very breath
That fuels my lungs.

I say them
When you're not around
But your face and being
So easily come to mind
And I can't help thinking about you
And telling you even though you're not there
Because I know that my thoughts will never
Not contain you
For you are the "think" to my "I am".

I say them
With every inhale and exhale I take
Because that is how often
I want you to hear them.

I say those three words
Because there are no grand gestures
Or passionate declarations
Or sentimental pieces of jewelry
That will ever best
Their ability to convey my heart for you.

I will say them to you always:
I love you.