We Both Know

We Both Know
Meredith Morckel

We both know
that when I say, “I love you,” 
I’m not looking into your eyes. 
I see beyond you
to the man you could be,
the man I want you to be, 
and it is he that I love, actually. 

We both know
that when you say, “I love you,”
you’re speaking with 
half of your mouth. 
Half of your teeth, 
half of your tongue,
half of your heart. 
It is she that you love, truly,
or else you’d be apart. 

We both know
it won’t be long, 
although it’s been longer
than I’d ever imagined. 
You’ll return to her, 
I’ll find a he, 
and our not-love
will be history.