I could write a poem about you

I could write a poem about you.

This is something no one has ever said to me before.

I imagine that if someone ever does
it will be whispered,
a confession that leaks out in the moments before sleep
when reality is suspended
and judgment impaired
so that in the morning we will both wonder if it actually happened
but be too embarrassed to ask
or too afraid of the answer.
I imagine that it will carry echoes of "I love you"
so loud that they will silence the constant stream of thoughts
that runs through my head like a television news crawl.
I imagine that it will be awful in the true sense of the word,
that is that it will be awe-full,
so much so that I will think it is a lie
because there are no words that could contain that emotion,
at least not properly, not completely.
I imagine that it will be a little bit frightening
because I know I am not a goddess to be worshipped
and no temples should be built in my name.
I imagine that it will really mean "I could never write a poem about you"
and "Every poem I write is about you."

I could write a poem about you.

This is something no one has ever said to me before.

If someone ever does,
I am afraid it will not be like I imagine,
that it will really mean "I want to have sex with you,"
or "You broke my heart, bitch,"
or "I pity you,"
or "You're too weak to speak for yourself, so I will speak for you,"
or "You're kind of funny looking, so maybe a poem about you will make a profound statement,"
or "I'm too scared to say this myself, so I am going to pretend you feel this way too,"
or "You aren't someone poems should be written about, so this will really impress my professor."
I am scared that it will come out of the wrong mouth,
in the wrong place,
at the wrong time.
I am scared it won't mean anything at all.
I am scared it will mean everything.

I could write a poem about you.

This is something no one has ever said to me before.

I hope that no one does.
Not unless he understands the weight that statement carries,
realizes that it is completely terrifying,
but also completely exhilarating,
wants to hear it as much as I do,
but will also run away from it as fast as I do.
Not unless it is more than just another pickup line,
but is whispered every morning, every night, every time we part.
Not unless it is used to replace "I love you."

I could write a poem about you.

This is something no one has ever said to me before.