For Sam

For Sam;
who asked I never write a poem about/for him,

I have this concept and it is that I love you
and I test it against every text
to see if the concept holds up
under further speculation

I toss, turn and talk through the night
and you stay asleep

I rant and rave
and you don’t raise an eyebrow

you look at me delighted and alarmed and
disoriented
like you’ve landed somewhere beautiful after a long trip
and I’m asking if you’re lost

this is not a pipe dream or a poem or words at all
if you don’t want them to be

this is a concept and it is an essence,
it’s a visceral and out of body experience,
and it is that I love you