how should love be measured?

should the number of times
my lips meet yours
be counted meticulously?

or will nine fade into ten
and night turn to day,
until our lungs breathe the same air?

maybe they’ll watch and see
how many times my dark eyes
brighten and nudge at my smile because of you,

but i suppose my smiles
might get lost in my laughter
and they’ll have to remind me to breathe.

should my heartrate gain a shadow
as they study the way my valves
fill my heart to the brim so quickly when I hear your name?

or will that lead them to see
that every organ in my lifeforce
works to make sure my arms can one day hold you?

maybe they’ll count our i love you’s,
and i’ll yell at them,
just to remind both of us

that it doesn’t matter how many words, hugs, or years we share.
nothing else matters
as long as I have you.