A Thousand Words for Love

You're fading like a beat on the radio

as one song transitions to another:

soul to indie rock,

electronica to the blues.



And what is love but an exercise,

a hunkering down and flexing, pointing;

a contraction and moment of release.



Turns out the next song is one I don't know:

plaintive lyrics and a complex background

of layers: hills, valleys, and aching oohs.



Theres this myth that Eskimos have a hundred words for snow.

Its an exaggeration,

but like all hyperbole it contains truth

blown up big enough to see.



And I think we should have a thousand words for love:

One for the way I loved him,

one for the way I love you,

one for the way you love her still, despite the spite.



One for the look in your eyes

when you took this hat off your own head and put it on mine,

said, Take it.



One for the way I nodded,

then walked away.