If I Was Going to Write a Poem About You

If I was going to write a poem about you,

I would tell the whole world

That you are so terrible at singing

Your falsetto voice could shatter glass.

But, when you’re deployed, I miss your singing.

And I play all your favorite songs

To try and remember your voice.

If I was going to write a poem about you,

I would tell the whole world

That you broke your glasses in half

The singular time you tried to play basketball

But, when you’re deployed, I remember that first date

And I follow your basketball teams

So I can summarize the playoffs over Skype.

If I was going to write a poem about you,

I would tell the whole world

That you almost burned the house down

The last time you tried to make Mac and Cheese.

But, when you’re deployed, I eat alone

So, I really don’t eat much of anything

Unless I get the chance to feed your friends.

If I was going to write a poem about you,

I would tell the whole world

That you once kept me up past three in the morning

To sew on your ensignia before drill, and I almost killed you

But, when you’re deployed, I look at your pictures

And, to me, you look just as good in dress uniform

As you look in a baggy sweatshirt.

If I was going to write a poem about you,

I would tell the whole world

That I haven’t really gotten used to missing you

And maybe that makes me weak

But, when you’re deployed, I promise myself

That, as soon as you get home,

I am diving right into your arms.