thee

i want to call you thou, the sound
of the shape of the start
of a kiss — like this, thou —
and to say, after, i love,
thou, i love, thou i love, not
i love you.

because i so do —
as we say now — i want to say
thee, i adore, i adore thee,
and to know in my lips
the syntax of love resides,
and to gaze in thine eyes.

love’s language starts, stops, starts;
the right words flowing or clotting in the heart.

- c. a. d