unconditionally

you know that you have changed me 

now 

that I count the days, now, with the height of your laughs 

and the nights with your heavy breaths 

pressed with their heat against me

falling and rising, this ruler by which I measure all days

now 

there is nothing I don’t wish to place in your hands

now

rip the pride out from everything I am until 

the organs of my body are pulsating in your palms 

now

recreating themselves

now

you know that you have changed me 

that loving someone first means 

loving them unconditionally 

I feel every hole in my body filling with this 

thing you have taught me 

straining out like sand spreading through baby hands 

patience for my impatience

altruism in my self-seeking 

endurance for my tiredness

benevolence in my envy 

no records of

my wrongs 

no longer fighting to be so very strong 

you know that you have changed me 

hoisting me over your shoulder saying 

into my tired ear 

that we will walk the thousands of miles 

out of here

around and across wherever it may be 

that we won’t stop walking 

ever

you know that you have changed me now

because when I think of those words 

now

I know what it means to love

unconditionally