Gentle Bane

Stop nagging me!

Let me help you.

Did you sleep well?

Put your seatbelt on.

Your stupid nagging in my ears, all your silly things

Are you home safe?

Did you make it all right?

Please don’t go alone.

I roll my eyes and try and resist yet you persist:

Have you eaten?

Did you drink water?

Put on a coat.

I want to be annoyed and fight back but I’m stopped in my tracks

Because deep down I know

It’s because you love me

Behind each itch of annoyance, there’s a sense of reassurance

You tell me “I love you”

And I hear things new:

Please be safe.

Please take care.

Please stay alive.

I can’t imagine a world without you

It’s because I love you.