poem: untitled 4:18

i want
to be romantic
to say words that will make you swoon
eyes roll back in your head breath belabored
but
what i feel
is the strength of your arms
my head on your chest
kissing the top of my head and telling me
you're safe

as i breathe in the warm scent of you
and memorize the rhythm of your heart
you're safe

from the wraith of illness and death

from the fear that i don't understand us

from my demons
from your demons
from anything that isn't us here now

because
now is the only time
and now and now and now

i want you
and i want the romantic-y
two ships pass in the night stuff
i want to see and do the things i've become a little afraid of
because

i don't just want that