don't say "i love you too"
because then all i could do for you
is gladden or give you pain
between your hope and suspicion
before your blame or praise
and on me alone with the shine of the light
the shame of having a face
have i not had nearly one hundred times
only to promise not to die
i have begun my long love to god
that quiet and aimless chore
it's a life learning languages
but you create nonsense and nothing more
the lumpy lead of patience
is a long road from the swift happiness of gold
to take all this once more upon myself
i, the estranged, return home
