Love by Night

by SK Williams

  I have left

  but I want to spend every last one

  with you

  here’s to the days to come

  here’s to the days we’ve had

  here’s to everything we will be

  whatever it is

  I know for sure

  it’s made better with you

  Lines

  I wish I could draw a single straight line

  starting from here

  back to where we first began

  and all along the memories in between

  But there were other lines too –

  the lines of your face my fingers traced over

  the lines we waited in while we

  joked and giggled

  the lines we gave them to make them think

  we weren’t us

  the lines we used to hang our clothes on

  the lines we threw to hoist each other up

  when we were down

  the lines we wrote when words weren’t

  enough

  the lines we crossed when we knew

  we loved each other

  the lines painted on the road passing by as

  I looked out the passenger-side window

  while you drove us through the night to

  anywhere we could forget everything but

  each other

  I remember when you wrote me 365 reasons

  why you love me – to open one every day

  I remember when I wrote you

  a book of poems

  just for you – to read when you miss me

  I remember when we first sang together

  and when we first read together

  I remember when I met you and learned your name

  and how you looked

  and how you looked at me

  I remember our first tickle fight together

  and how we stared at each other when I

  pinned you

  I remember the first time

  we cried on each other

  and how it felt to be held by you

  I remember the last time I saw you

  and the next time is too far away

  but I’ll remember it too

  Things I’m looking forward to:

  • The day we tie our hearts together

  • Whisking away somewhere with you

  • Making a home with you

  • Cooking and dancing

  • More tickle fights

  • Late night talks until the sun comes up

  • The rest of my days and nights with you

  Okay, my dear, everything is okay

  I am with you

  and everything will be alright

  I know how weary you’ve grown

  but it’s time to lay it all down

  Come here

  come into my arms

  let my fingers remind you that you are safe

  and my lips remind you that you are loved

  and let’s forget about it all

  Let me take you away

  lay your head back

  against my chest

  let me take you somewhere better

  somewhere that deserves you

  We’ve spent so many days

  holed-up together

  in this space

  just big enough for two –

  that’s right, just me and you

  but there’s no other space

  I’d rather be

  when we get let out

  I will go wherever you go

  and together we’ll be free

  to walk the empty streets

  or sail off into the sea

  Do you know

  the places I would go with you?

  We could brave the cold wild of Scandinavia

  or lie beside the sunny seashores of Hawaii

  we could dance the Bourbon Street

  of New Orleans

  or take to the slippery gondolas of Venice

  we could kiss beneath the twinkling

  Eiffel Tower

  or learn the lush ways of the Amazon

  we could go anywhere, my love

  My Dreams for the Future

  I hope we will always find joy

  in the little things

  and that we will be kind –

  to each other, to others, and to ourselves

  I hope that when we fight

  we find a way to make it work

  and make it better again

  I hope we never stop

  making each day special

  and full of wonder

  I hope we remember

  as happy as we make each other

  it’s okay to cry sometimes too

  I hope the days without you

  pass by quicker

  than the days we spend together

  I hope we never forget our dreams

  or stop looking to the night sky

  for wonder

  or love

  or each other

  I hope we keep calling each other

  our names we’ve made for one another

  instead of the ones our parents gave us

  I hope if we choose to be parents

  we are good ones

  and we raise our children

  to be loving and open

  I hope even when we grow old and weary

  we do not become

  bitter or angry

  I hope whether we are rich or poor

  we will always find enough

  in each other

  and in ourselves

  I hope we never forget

  the big important things

  or the little ones either

  like pillow forts

  or dancing in the kitchen –

  all the things that made us

  along the way

  And last of all

  I hope that at the end

  we will still be us

  There were those nights

  we stayed up until the morning talking

  We watched the sunset

  and the sunrise

  and it felt like time

  was irrelevant

  These days, we read each other to sleep

  and wait for each other

  in our dreams

  I know

  some days the world will be far too heavy

  on your shoulders

  So let me carry it

  with you

  We’ll sing songs

  while we walk into forever

  When you go

  come find me

  up in the stars

  I’ll be waiting for you there

  Thank you for reading this book.

  You can view more of our work together on Instagram @skwilliamspoetry and Twitter @skwilliamspoet.

  Feel free to write to us!

  Acknowledgments

  to all our followers and supporters on social media, from those who have been there since the beginning to those just finding us now

  to Sabrina & Terry, for their endless support and Laurie for spreading our words

  to Gregg & Christie, Shannon & Steve, Sue & Ron, Carli, and Brandon, for their constant encouragement and love

  to Piper, the best dog we could ever ask for

  to Karissa, Vince & Sarah, Stefanie, Mallory, Oscar, and all the friends who cared enough to be a part of our journey

  to the incredibly t
alented Justin Estcourt, for his beautiful cover artwork – find more of his art on his Instagram @jetsyart

  to James, Courtney, and Wilder, for their help in making our dream become a reality

  and to everyone at Andrews McMeel, who took a chance on us and believed in us

  Check out these other great titles from Andrews McMeel Publishing!