“Amar en Inglés”

“Amar en Inglés”

“I love you”

I say that and I laugh

Because loving you in English 

Does not feel 

Like Spanish does.

“Love” rolls (or, better said, slides)

Off your tongue and out your mouth

Without much class;

Without any effort.

A breath, a syllable

Carried off by a strong breeze. 

“Amar” on the other hand.

Is different.

“Amar” is the soul speaking;

Open wide vowels, 

Innocent and giving

And a caramel sweet “m”

All closed off with an “r” sound

That’s meant to encapture 

The longing for you,

An embrace and invitation

If you would like it so.

It seems to me 

 You can love many things 

In English

And only distinguish them 

By  the words chosen afterwards.

It seems to me,

English tried to make loving easy

By untying it to the heart.

“Love”

Simple. 

So simple, in fact,

That I wonder if it’s enough.

At least Spanish was

Mindful to know

That when you 

 Share such a bond

You don’t need many words.

Just one

“Amar,” the verb 

And all its conjugations.

The word holds so much power

Saying it takes a piece of you 

From somewhere in your chest

And gives it to someone else,  

 So you use it sparingly. 

Maybe I’m biased

Because my soul speaks Spanish

And “Amar” feels like living in itself. 

Joyous and permanent and real,

But since yours doesn’t 

I’ll keep saying “I love you”

In case your loving 

Feels like an embrace

To you too.