Written on my Heart

While others write in ink and stone

Or carve into a weathered trunk

You've been gnawing at my bones

And have written on my heart.

A word and worship song inside

A language I don't know.

A litany of unknowns.

An aimless ache for home.

I wish I had let myself love you

A little while.

It's going to take a lot of writing out

Reductionism begs for a ribbon-cutting

And oh, the easy road

I'm no chaser, but I want to be

A pursuer, I want to at least say

I tried.

Hope-deferred dry

I wish I could make any sense of

Of the things I feel in my mind.

While others write upon their arms

Or tattoo 'beloved' on their wrist

I wanted to save the excess ink

And let you know from the start.

While others speak in chocolate and flowers

I hope a T-shirt will do.

I wish I could say I was an author

But I'm terrified the poem

Might not exactly meet expectations.

We've both been running from the start

You've been tugging at my elbows

You have written on my heart.