Treasure

I treasure the time with you.
And the way you patiently wait,
quiet and pensive,
for me to understand what it is I want to say,
how I want to say it.

I treasure the knowledge you carry of what this means to me,
to have something which sounds like me,
as I experiment with tenor and timbre and tone,
seeking the accent and emphasis and meter
which best conveys this voice of mine.

I treasure the way you’ve stopped asking,
but still hope.
And the feeling of knowing that even the small victories are grand
and worthy of celebration.

I treasure the way you lift me up
sometimes without saying a word
because wanting what is good and works for me
is the best way
to make someone
feel treasured.