I’ve never really been eloquent
at vocalizing my love and affection
and to pinpoint as to why that is
well
I wouldn’t really know where to start

maybe it’s the fact
that expressing my emotions
shakes my core to the very bone
my voice, my hands, my body
they tremble

maybe it’s the fact
that I have to practice everything I say
because yes
it needs to be perfect, precise, planned out

maybe it’s the fact
that I’m so afraid of rejection
to feel vulnerable, weak, laid out
you might as well strip me naked and parade me in the streets

when my parents say
we love you
we care about you
we are here for you
all I can really say is
“okay”
and the hurt in their eyes
well
that’s something I’ve learned
to dismiss, ignore, shake off

but for some ungodly reason
you are always the exception
expressing my appriciation for you
might be the easiest thing I've done
poems and prose
I’ve written them all
although none has really
done any justice

my love for you can be expressed
in the three languages I speak:
I love you
je t’aime
mahal kita

and I would learn every language
just to say those words to you
because simply one
is not enough