Because I Love You

Because I love you, I promise not to cut you with my eyes when you cry. I promise not to use my words as knives, and I promise not to tell you a lie, but when I lie, I'll beg for your forgiveness and promise again that the next time I lie, it will be the key to my heart at your feet. I think it's funny how bittersweet love can really be, and by the time I realize I don't have a chaser, I've already bitten off two cheek-fulls, and I'm halfway through swallowing 'cause Mama didn't raise no bitch. Because I love you, I'll scoop you up onto my two left feet, and we'll fumble around the kitchen in the dim of the oven light well past the stroke of midnight. Princess, I'll hum our favorite tune and twirl you around and around as the rumble of my chest sends you adrift the sea of dreams. You're pillow is my heart, and rest assured, you're safe here. 

Because I love you, I won't buy you everything on your wish list. Rather, for your birthday I'll buy the least expensive gift from the list just

to show you I was listening; use the rest of the money to buy us brand new fishing poles and just before the sun awakens, we'll blindly feel our way through the front yard, you and me. We'll rummage through the crust of the Earth and find the juiciest worms Mother has to offer, just you and me. We'll hop in the truck and cruise a couple miles off the road to that little sweet spot I told you about where I snagged Godzilla last week. You and me, we'll stay out there until the cows come home or Mom calls asking when we reckon we're coming home; whichever comes first.

Because I love you, I'll remember your birthday.

Because I love you, I'll cling to your hand, and cry harder than you when I drop you off that first day.

Because I love you , I'll hold you when you need me and when you don't. I'll teach you to recognize your worth so you don't find yourself ten years down the line searching for my love where the sun never shines.

Because I love you, I'll tell you I love you and mean it.