Words

*Firsts

Words

"I love you"

You say those words

For the first time

And after that moment

The words have their way of

Diminishing

Transforming into a phrase

Whose meaning when first spoken

Was filled with so much passion

And truth from your heart

But now I wonder,

I question

The loss of these word's meanings

If we say them

Just because we have forgotten how

To communicate our love for one

Another in other ways

How can we encompass

All the gratitude, joy, and respect

Between us

Into just one phrase

I feel myself stretching these words

To match my feelings

To find proper place in my mouth

Before releasing

And then find myself speaking it,

In repetition

In routine

Hoping each time I say them

They can fully mean, what they mean to

And make you feel like

The first time I told you

I wonder about the first time

I ever knew

"I love you"

Who the first person was

That made me connect those words

To feelings

How old was I

Where was the place and moment

What might have triggered me to

Say and feel "I love you"?

I wonder before I ever spoke those words

When was the first time

You knew I adored you,

That you inspired me,

Make me want to be better,

That you make my days brighter

And more joyful

That I am so grateful to have your

Support and guidance and care in life

That I don't see a future

Without you in it

I wonder if you knew this

Before I ever told you

If my breath

Or heart beat

Or the way I hold you

With arms, and eyes

Spoke to you before words could?