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Three Little Powerful Words
“I love you”
Spoken out of habit
When greeted by a favorite meal
Prepared by fingers you held when you slipped a wedding band
Wonder if “thank you” would have sufficed?
“I love you”
Utters the father
As baby girl giggles in delight when this little piggy tickles her
Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!
Wonder if he meant “it’s nice to have playtime and finally unwind”?
“I love you”
Says the grown son to the weary mom who after an arduous workday
Calls to hear a familiar voice, to remember she still matters to someone
Wonder if he really meant “ I’m sorry you are alone”?
“I love you”
Writes a classmate who sits across in class a dozen times, maybe,
As the teacher explains the Pythagorean theorem
Wonder if she calls herself best friend and signs “I love you”
So the favor can be returned, her yearbook a testimony of an inflated ego?
“I love you”
Next to the last words spoken
“I love you too”
As the phone conversation goes silent;
Obligatory last words.
I wonder if spoken loosely
“I love you” is at best confusing
And at worst selfish?
