Because Maybe

I like you, maybe because

you are kind
you are sensitive
you are thoughtful.

you are sweet, you are loving, you smile.

you dance with me
and horizontally
and you kiss me.

I like you because you’re intelligent
and original!
I like you because you follow your own thread.

You’re spontaneous
and gracious.
You walk your walk.

Your ego isn’t in control
and you know what I mean when I say so
and you seek enlightenment
or
more appropriately
consistent growth.

Who else could possibly avoid stagnation as I do?

Your loving
makes my knees weak
and my jeans creamy.

Your touch
excites my skin
and I am able to receive your love.

Only with you
do I relax into caresses
not fearing
or feeling
I must reciprocate
in order
to be deserving
of enjoying
your gifts.

I like you
because you swim
and hike
and you’re emotional about birds

because your vision
isn’t perfect
and sometimes
you let me see things for you.

I like you because
you can see
my father
and I believe you could love him anyhow

because
you chose
your father
as yours.

You remind me of non-attachment.
You help me to be in the present.
You present a way of being entirely different
than the one I have known.

You appreciate my cooking,
discipline
intelligence
and the laughter
of my auntie and me
as she describes
her colonoscopy.

I wouldn’t mind
if with me
you saw more stars

wouldn’t mind if the scents of rosemary, roses
couldn’t help
but be embraced
by your sweet senses.

I wouldn’t mind
if you shaved more often
and closer
so I could rub my smooth check against yours
and be closer.

When I first saw you
I couldn’t see you
but some part of me
I swear, could feel you

Because I can’t run from you
There’s some illusion
I must work through with you.

Or must I?

Mom and Dad know now
a little bit
but they don’t understand.

Don’t we all say that?

Pursuing a life together
is a question
but not for today
or tomorrow
or probably the next one thereafter.

Between now and the answer
I expect, certainly,
more kisses
and questions of me.

I intend to learn
whether in times of trouble
you’d consider therapy.

Would you have a dog?
Raise a bilingual child?
Support my desires to see the rest of the world?
Would you travel it with me?
Have money to do so?
Will you love me?
and know me
and grow with me
until you can’t anymore
and then let go gracefully?
because even divorce
isn’t failure.

Will you open your eyes to the present?
Will you descend from your thoughts,
however brilliant,
into the sweet essence of this moment?

Wsssshh

Who’s smarter:
Kenny Edwards or Peter Mt. Shasta?
Carl Marsak or Mr. Bill Cartwright?
Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison?

SAME

You and I?
Not related
yet related.
You and I
not committed
but connected.
You and I . . .
unestablished
and curious

Because maybe
we could be
You and me.