A Word to Replace You

When I look at pictures of you I think

This, is it. This is

the Real Thing

This is…

Love!

But then, I realize I don’t know a thing about love.

I only know about a four letter word

Watered down and distorted by

Our Society.

I only know

-Think I know-

About a love that’s

Whored out on Valentines candy and

Hallmark cards.

I only -think- I know

That it must be expressed

By playing guitar outside your window

Because it’s what the guy in the Hollywood movie

Would do!

We only think we know

Because we’re playing the same

Sappy love song from the radio.

No, ‘Love’ is not the word I want to use to describe

The electricity that pulses through my veins when I

See your shining eyes on this screen,

Your smiling face in my dreams.

So, what word will let you know

That words like ‘melancholy’ didn’t exist

When you were by my side at night.

What word, can I use to show

That I didn’t see a future with you before

But I can’t stop thinking about it now.

What word

Will make you blind

To the fact that you gave up on me a long time ago.

What word?

And now I’ll lay awake at night,

Licking my lips because

They can’t form the shapes to make this word.

Maybe because

I don’t know this word.

Maybe because

I can’t know this word due to your absence.

Maybe, it’s time for me to be strong

And move on.

Or maybe,

I just haven’t played guitar outside your window loud enough.