Sunscreen On My Back

I can’t say how it feels,
To have an all consuming love
But I think I still know what it is.

I think love is when I give you my apple on a hike,
Even though it is my only one.
I think it is when we sit on the curb and cry.

I think love is when they dry my dishes
Or put sunscreen on my back,
And reach underneath my bikini straps.

I think loving is
Keeping your favorite plate clean
Or going to each other’s classes, just to spend the time.

I think it’s when you were excited to cut my hair
Even though it was just my split ends.
I think it’s how we laughed when my bangs looked weird.

It’s when you sat with me while I cried in the dining hall after my breakup,
And didn’t mind the mess.
It’s when you came straight to my room after it ended, and we still laughed.

So when people speak of grand gestures of love
I tell them,
You put sunscreen on my back.