She says 
“I love you  
I don’t plan on giving you up  
I am yours as long as you’ll have me”

As if my heart was not already anchored to her seasons. 

As if I hadn’t said those words to another. 
I watched my words fall to earth, years ago. 
Caught and examined and set aside 
unwanted 
Watched myself 
Shatter
into a very long winter 

Two cardinals kiss at my feeder,
beaks
exchanging a seed so delicately that my bones ache.

and one morning I wake up
and find my words 
in her mouth

I am a humble lizard basking
and she is the sun,  

a tree opens new leaves    
like hands spread in prayer toward the sun 

She sends 
Kisses
Blown across the world 
Admiration
On the backs of songbirds
 Promises 
Between the wave-forms of domesticated lightning 

A spring storm
raining love

 Each drop feels unreal 
Unbelievable.
 Frost crept deeper than I realized 

Yet I am thawing  

She says “I love you”  
And I hold each letter to my lips  
fold them safely into my heart

They were mine –
are mine –
ours 
I know they are precious 

This time,

they are warm