What You've Always Been

 My tears wet the tissue
From the box on the table
Decorated with curving lines and rough stained wood
We bought it at a garage sale
And giggled together as we lifted it into the back of my mom’s red minivan
I tripped on a stick and almost dropped it
But you saved it
You’ve always been strong that way

And that table
It sits on our baby blue carpeting
“It’s pretty” you said
“It’ll work for now” was my master reply
I complained for weeks after we moved in
You put up with me
You’ve always been patient that way

And that carpet
It belongs to the house
The house that we finally bought
A soft yellow paint
To a two bedroom mansion
We were so happy, it was actually ours
I danced in bare feet in an empty kitchen
And you kissed me until I was dizzy
You’ve always been sweet that way

And that house
It’s next to the tree
An apple tree, blooming with flowers in late spring
The tree that we put cheap chairs under
And sat beneath nearly all night
I fell asleep so many times
And you carried me into the house
And laid me on my bed
You’ve always been perfect that way

And that tree
Towers over the ground
Brown and moist, where a small dent lies
From when you let your knee sinks into the dirt, just moments ago
And kneeled before me
Promising to love me forever
I said yes