he says
he's not a poet
but i find his poems
to have more meaning
more beauty, more heart
to them than mine
and the way
he uses his words
can change how a person is feeling
from sad to happy
just with a couple of phrases
knitted together

he says
he's not a good writer
but those early morning
last minute essays
of pure adrenaline and
half-awake thoughts
present ideas
in such a way
that it's impossible
to find them anything
but perfect

he says
he's not sure
what his future will bring
but i know him
he's smart
and he's
so wonderfully stubborn
that wherever he may end up
he will go farther
than anyone could have ever imagined
including me
i can't predict exactly where he'll be
in 4 months
or 4 years
but i know his path will go
down the most bountiful roads
and in the end
he'll be happy
and all will be worth it

he says
he's not grateful
but almost everything he does
he does for others
he loves his parents
and hurts when they hurt
he realizes what they do
for him, and wants to make them
the proudest parents on earth
he loves his friends
and tries to make them better

he says
he's a relationship whisperer
and i guess he's right
because with a few choice words
gentle nudges and an onslaught
of appreciated suggestions
he whispered us together

he says
that the dark spots on the sun
can bring shadow
to the most brilliant light
but not even
the dark of endless night
can dim his brightness
or hide him from those
who see him for who he is
who see his potential

he doubts herself
sometimes she thinks
he won't succeed,
always worried
that what he's done
isn't enough
or that there's too little time
to get everything done
but no matter the odds
no matter what he's up against
he pushes through
he persists, he fights
and he gets what he wants
or as close to what he wants
as is actually possible
sometimes he even achieves the impossible
and it's nothing if not admirable
showing me that anything is possible
proving to me that
"You could rattle the stars
You could do anything
If only you dared"
not by anything i've done
but by everything he's accomplished

he says
he's not beautiful
true, she's not a model
but that doesn't mean he's not perfect
but the way those eyes shine
like earth kissed by spring rain
promising life and happiness,
mirrored by his wide smile
though not often seen,
just one smile from him
is like a ray of sunshine
through grimy windows
bringing light into a place
that knew nothing but darkness,
warm enough to melt the walls
surrounding the coldest of hearts
And i would never love anyone else