by Aileen Lu
Art by Grace Chu
Issue: Aphelion (Spring 2016)
Of all things, I love him most
for how he listens to me speak,
mindless chatter and trivial stories,
circular musing and wishful thoughts;
how if I forget and life seems bleak,
he brings them out from behind my hair
and reminds me that somebody cares
Of all things, I love him most
for how I can return, weary,
falling from the day—so bleary—
into soft sheets and his soothing embrace;
though I never know how to convey
what my pained heart throbs to say,
he knows how to save me from yesterday.
Of all things, I love him most
for how he comes, at any hour
I need him, near or far from home
and provides much needed repose;
how when the world becomes a tomb
he’ll run away with me on tiptoes
into blissful oblivion free of woes.
Of all things, I love him most
for how after I’ve left him one last time
he still waits at the end, where all ends;
Death may never do us part but
end our parting and lay my heart
to curl up with his for all eternity; one day
I will fall into him and never wake again.