It just wasn't love

 

Even though you'd whisper, "I love you" 

In between gasped breaths 

As if each movement was a reinstatement, a confirmation

But plasters and bandages would not remove and heal the scars of thoughts of you left imprinted on my skin

(regardless of however much I wished they would)

 

Love was weary then, held his head low and was nervous

Had rough hands from hard work and lilac shadows from sleepless nights 

Like a vacancy sign that would flash on and off 

 

Love would hold me on my own sleepless nights 

Nights when tears fell like tsunamis rather than summer rain 

Nights when anger flared like forest fires but left me empty 

 

But slowly 

My endeavors on those nights occurred without you 

You had given all a person could give; I knew I could always give more 

I slept through the nights after you

letting the tsunamis flood 

letting the fires burn out 

leaving something warm and musky in the air I breathed 

 

It just wan't love, although I hoped it was

 

 

 

(Love looks different now, maybe that's okay)