Did you hear me

Did you hear me

When I whispered

I love you under my breath

Afraid of being overheard

By a bunch of strangers

As if it mattered what they said

About a sad-faced guy

Muttering to himself

On the esplanade

So many conversations

They were never so one-sided

I imagine what you might say

It is never to ‘pull yourself together’

Or ‘get on with it why don’t you’

Not that you might not

But I wouldn’t want to hear it

Is my guess

And instead

I hear you say

‘I love you too...more.’

Which is an old joke

Between lovers

It is in the remembering

That I am sustained

Continuing to walk and talk

I could even chew gum at the same time

As if that is something

Still worth considering

As a freshener

After all

Nobody wants a potty mouth

For a lover

Imaginary

Or not.