if i said i love you
would it fall again on ears that pretend not to hear
if i said i love you
would it have been better for me not to have said it at all
if i said i love you
would you sigh again and think, "i know."
if i said i love you
would you wish for me to stop saying it
so you can stop pretending you don't hear it anymore?

but if i add another letter
which we both know would make it a lie
would that have been better for you,
for me,
for us;
would you finally hear
what i've been trying to tell you all these years?

then, i say: i loved you.