Rian Smith

Battles of the Tongue

it begins

"how dare you attack me"

our words are exchanged like knives falling from the sky

words bursting in each other's faces like grenades

firecrackers pop of the tip of my tongue

whereas your lips release a flame that sets my anger ablaze furthermore


"how could you say that?"

we throw low blows like small children blowing at dandelions

wishing for a calm to a storm that never even had to be endured

we claw like cats in a bag, sinking our nails in as deep as we can

although in actuality we are simply seeking to find where the others heart is


"i want to see us win."

you know there are wars fought over hearts as big as ours

people kill for a love like ours

better yet,

people live their whole lives without ever finding a love like ours

even still,

people will try to ruin a love like ours because they can't quite get it right

so i'll take the battles of the tongue

i will shed a few tears for lost battles, but never for won wars

i will sacrifice time and time again for the realist unseen thing i've ever known besides God himself


"i'm sorry"

i will take that white flag every time

i will wave it until i simply no longer can

i will wave it until the shores no longer fill with white foam

and until the wheat doesn't sway in the breeze

i will fight for you

i will die for you

but i simply will not die without you


"i love you"