I would have stayed if it meant
talking to you on those wooden stairs all night
I’d have slapped mosquitos away
and listened to you compare yourself to your father
until the sky grew pink

If only you knew how much I meant it
when I assured you of your talent
your wit
your possibility
I should have pretended I’d drank more
and kissed you on that couch
made a fool of myself again
just so you could taste how much I think of you

You can do great things
Things that will cause your father to
scratch his beard and ask for more details
Things greater than the small town you grew up in
I just wish you’d do them with me

I water you, you water me; we grow together.