Your Three Words Poem by RIC BASTASA

you write about
three words, and i predict
them from the
beginning,
i look at how your
name spells
letters arranged
so easy to remember
and you hint
about the three words
that i also know....

i know you mean
i love you..

cute, tickle me, like
high school sweethearts
you like it
giggling words
i love you

but grow a little
bit, grow the length of my arms
and muscles on my thighs
grow the nails
in my fingers
some dirt in there
some stains
in my hands

grow some more
yes, have white hairs
and wrinkled forehead
and trembling hands

and some sad stories
as you go along
some griefs
that you cannot contain
move on
with such words as
i quit
i am fed up

move on, grow, let time eat you
bloat in silence
store everything
inside your chest
and hit it with your
fists

do not cry
toughen your jaws
have a rope ready
loosen it a bit
for a while
on the benefit of a
doubt
something that
is reasonable

now, think deep
thoughts
and inhale more air

then exhale
tell me, what are those three words
in your throat?