If I Tell You That I Love You

If I tell you that I love you,
It's not to clap a jar
Around your beaming firefly butt
And put you in my room.

If I tell you that I love you,
It's not to pin you down
On my waxy cork-board
To classify your wings.

If I tell you that I love you,
It's not a precious gift
For which I'll want a tax receipt
Or something in return.

But if I tell you that I love you,
It's only that I do.
It's only that I feel a warmth
From one and only you.

And so, please, don't run too far,
For I would never chase,
Or try to snare you in a net,
So, forgive me just in case

I might forget

And tell you that I love you.

 

-jenn long