To Be Cherished

 
I remember the first time you believed in me
believed I could overcome my fears
and achieve my wildest dreams
you loved me so much back then
you didn’t even know
how I loved you so
but differently

ten years later
there was that time I disappointed you
not for the first ungraceful time
but for the tenth time over
when I smoked that cigarette
deceitfully behind your back
then turned myself in vulnerably
because I knew you would still love me

I swear there were tears in your eyes
and even though you claimed there wasn’t
it was enough to make me break
the rest of those filthy cigarettes in half

now here we are, hand in hand
the regrets we piled into a pit and burned
leaving ashes blowing in the fiery wind
transforming the air that we now breath
together, the smell of smoke lingering
as a reminder of what no longer serves us
and the strength required to be brave
as you so diligently led the way

one day we’ll look back at these times
hair streaked with wisdom and laughter lines
recalling memories we never want to forget
from times we didn’t even know each other
and yet discovered how much we loved one another
so deeply, while we were so far apart

you still believed in me; casting spells
to draw a line from my heart to yours
to keep us safe
and I still believed in you; writing poetry
like a madwoman about lost love notes
in a heartbroken craze

until we found ourselves embraced
in each other’s arms
listening to the spoken-word
of Andrea Gibson
looking up at the winter stars
as the year was ending
you started shivering
and you whispered

let’s go inside now, love