AN AFTER VALENTINE SONG

but what if I told you I didn't need the roses,

or the chocolates if there had been any,

or the diamonds if it ever came to that?

roses wilt and die

chocolates will make me fat

and diamonds get stolen

do you not know the gift I have every morning

when I open my eyes and uncover you

the ribbon I unravel is the life we have together

how you held my hand and led me through

days that may not have always been easy but were always with a purpose

hours you lovingly filled with laughter

minutes you joyously colored with love

years that saw us evolve into better versions of ourselves

I rip through layers upon layers

of the little things you do

that with constancy become this big way about you

that tells me you love me

'always have, always will' as you always say

and in the midst of it all is the you that has shown me

how much I could love, how well, how deep

how much of myself I could become, how strong, how precious

how beautiful we could be, how better... together

and the possibilities excite me still

tremendously

endlessly

we were never big on Valentine's Day

and so I write these lines, my gift to you

the day after

the many days after

for always...

I love you.