I Have Loved You

I have loved you all my life.

As a little girl, I imagined us a family
     whole and happy.

Then mine broke
my world became fragments
the dream, an illusion
and I stopped imagining you

I grew and I began to long for love
I looked for you
     but found cheap and costly imitations

I joined the charade
Mourning as, bit by bit,
     I gave away the rubble of my heart
Soon there were only pebbles left
     Not even enough to build a wall

I have loved you all my life.

From the ruins
     one small winged creature wakened when you called
Her heart beats with a tender fierceness
      and I am changed forever