Just words [working title]

[karinane]

When I say “I love you,”
It is not spoken with any expectation or ulterior motive.
It is not with the intention to invoke guilt or create discomfort.
Instead it is to share the love that is contained in those words.
Share the happiness that you bring me each day.
Share my gratitude and good fortune for having you in my life.
Share the pure and simple joy that is radiating from my heart.
Do not fear these words.
There is nothing in them that is burdensome
or that is awkward or deceptive.
I do not say them with the desire that you should echo them back to me,
hollow and empty.
I say them because I can not hold them inside myself.

It is true that in the beginning
I may have spoken these words with fear;
Fear of your reaction,
And doubt of myself;
So full of the desire to not be alone in feeling this way.
But I no longer have these worries.
I have let them go.
I recognize that you are not one who is quick to love.
You take a slow path,
One of logic and thought.
Testing your emotions,
Questioning them.
And when you come to love it is a love that is well-earned,
and not easily lost.
I know that I may not earn this love,
but I am full of hope that one day I will.
I believe that is a love that is well worth the wait,
and well worth the gamble.

So do not worry or fret next time I say “I love you.”
Instead smile back at me.
Know that it is the greatest compliment;
the greatest thanks that I can give you.
Know that at that moment I am so full of joy
That it is bursting to be released.
Know that it is just me bringing this joy to you,
the reason for my happiness,
and I ask nothing in return.
It is not something to doubt or fear.
It is simple.
I love you.

[saeity]

Hi karinane, welcome to the forum. I gather from this the N is in love with someone whose terribly shy to show emotions. I read this as if reading a personal love letter, I felt a little intrusive

saeity.

[karinane]

Thanks for the feedback. I don't know if intrusive is what I was going for. Maybe I will try to make it a little less raw...

It is based on an old relationship of mine and a recent conversation with my sister about her current relationship. I tried to take what she was saying and funnel it through my own experience (with a little more optimism).

Hi karinane, welcome to the forum. I gather from this the N is in love with someone whose terribly shy to show emotions. I read this as if reading a personal love letter, I felt a little intrusive

saeity.

[Claire]

Maybe the title should be I love you?
I don't know..just a thought

[Aphroditeny]

I loved the content but it didn's sound to me like a poem, more like a letter.
I think you have some great content to work with here. I often start out this way and then keep working at it until I am happy with the result.
Thank you for sharing

[karinane]

Thank you for the critique. I went back to it this morning and tried some revisions. My new title is "When I say I love you" and I tried to make it a little less narrative.