I Wish I Could Tell You

I wish I could tell you How I feel When I wake to see You sleeping next to me I wish I could describe The rhythm of your breath, Rising and falling Like mountains and empires, Emerging and dissolving Into warm, tranquil seas And in the sweep of your tide, I remember that I am mortal, And luckier still That I’m alive to see you— So still and peaceful In your temporary death And in the swell of the sea, A tear comes to my eye, Reminding me That I am salt And water Breaking against the present moment But, because I cannot tell you this, Instead, I lean down, Gently, carefully, And kiss your fragile head.