Grand Romantic Gestures by M. J. Magee
I won’t move heaven and earth for you.
I don’t have the physique.
I won’t scale every mountain.
I won’t swim every sea.
I’m busy. And I don’t think
The notion would mean much to you.
I will take a grenade for you.
Though I don’t think the situation’s
Likely to arise.
So perhaps
That doesn’t mean a lot either.
But I don’t want to promise you
Grand romantic gestures
That mean nothing
In real life.
I promise you
Real life
Instead.
I’ll cook dinner
Even though you’re so much
Better at it than me.
I’ll take the dog out when it’s raining.
I’ll do the laundry. I’ll make the bed.
I’ll make chicken soup
When you’re poorly.
And hold your hand while we watch
Scary movies.
And, when they get too scary,
I’ll keep my eyes open
And tell you when it’s safe to look.
I’ll rub your feet
When you’ve had a long day
And give you full control of the remote.
I won’t go to bed without you.
Or play video games late into the night.
I’ll listen to stories about your day
Without butting in
Or asking who the people are again.
I’ll remember everyone. And exactly
How much I’m meant to like them.
I won’t complain about your mother.
I won’t finish the last of the milk.
Not because you’re scary when
You haven’t had your morning coffee
But because I want you to have a
Good start to every day.
(Though you are a little scary.)
I’ll support you when you need support.
I’ll lift you when you need a lift.
I’ll hug you when you need a hug.
And other times too.
Just because
I like hugging you.
I’ll make you laugh.
I’ll make you tea.
I’ll give you my full attention
Even when the football is on.
I’ll be your cheerleader
And your sounding board
And your partner.
For real life.
