Here I Love You

Here I love you.
Cars whiz past while I walk back from class
and I pass underneath the shade of blooming trees
out in the smoker's courtyard.

Here I love you,
though my heart aches as if it's missing something,
a piece that was left behind
in the backseats of cars and our secret spots.

Here I love you,
with one piece of my heart missing for every
step down the trail to the reservoir where we sat
that one day and I cried
while you comforted and soothed me with
words of assurance, "forever..."

Here I love you.
The bells toll constantly, chiming away
the days until I can see your boyish grin
and put the pieces of my heart back together.

Here I love you,
while the wind whispers your name
into the night, along with an "I love you,"
carried across the miles between us
until we're home again.