The words kneel at the tip of your tongue, hands parting your lips
To examine the face before you and decide
The tone, pitch and speed they should take outside
A frown means a pleading must commence; a smile means banter is justified
Anything in between is harder to decipher, and means it is best for them to stay inside
They steady themselves and get in line, in attention, with a purpose specified
Yet your throat stays heavy, as though the words were held in pips
Soon they ready a march as to depart your mouth, only to retreat just as fast
Leaving an um and an ah behind
So, your tongue twirls once more in order to find
The right battalion that is readily inclined
To fight your fear and say what comes to mind
And see whether they come out well defined,
In order to spark a feeling that may last
Finally, in the space between us
They take to the air
Gliding on the line of breath that we share
And tiptoe up my arms, making attempts to prepare
To sit by my ears and let their intentions be laid bare
And so thus,
All this was just for you to say:
“I would like to stay.”
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