I Tried to Write You a Love Letter
I tried to write you a love letter
but
all that came out
were cliches like:
you mean the world to me,
you complete me,
I can't live without you...
(which, in addition to
being a cliché is a notorious lie – I cannot live without
air or water, neither of which is you; the sentiment behind the hyperbole is understandable,
yet tragically unrealistic, illogical and inaccurate – but then again, aren't all feelings?)
I tried to write you a love letter
but
I could only think of
empty phrases like:
soulmate, the one,
forever yours...
that usually get thrown around
devoid of meaning and
washed out...
I tried to write you a love letter
but nothing original came out;
it's all been said before
so so many
times before.
I tried to write you a love letter
but I wonder if I should;
it's all been done before
so so many
times before.
(and even this “original” idea of writing a poem about writing a love letter all ironic and reflexive like,
I don't know it, but I'm sure it's been done before)
I tried to write you a love letter,
but this poem came out
while I tried
to sound clever,
quirky and creative
and avoid saying
how I really felt.
The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
I tried to write you a love letter
when your absence
hit me deeply,
and I realized
I miss you more profoundly
than I thought I could.
But,
try as I might
to write you a love letter
the simple truth
is very simple and
it fits into 3 words
but 3 words don't make
a good love letter,
and anyway,
I'm sure somebody's
already said it before.