I Love You For

I am going through old notes and realizing that I have poems from years ago. This is from December 2014.

I Love You For

I've read that some people are told,

every day of their lives,

"You are beautiful"

"You are beautiful"

"You are beautiful"

So exclusively and for so long

that they start to hear

"I love you for your shoulders"

"You have gifted the world with your jawline"

"Your value is embedded in your cuticles"

and in nothing else

So, too, when I read your work

I want to say to you

"This is good"

"This is good"

"This is good"

Over and over and over

But I am so afraid to compliment you

Lest you begin to hear

"I love you for your witticisms"

"You have gifted the world with your poetry"

"Your value is embedded in your commentary"

and in nothing else

But I start to wonder

what can I say?

How can I tell you I love you so much that you love yourself?

I love you for your intelligence, your critical mind, your way of discussing

But if we disagree

If I tell you that you are wrong in my eyes

In the way that we define a certain word

Or the author's intent in that sentence

Will you mistake my intent?

Diminish the value in your own brilliant worldview?

I want to give you a friendship that cannot be unwound

And validation that is beyond doubt

But maybe that is too much to offer

Perhaps it is not mine to give