violin concertos in the dark

you can hold her hand
and look in her eyes
say something
say anything
but don’t say those three words

if you do
it’s over!
for you anyway

she’ll wrap them around your neck
drag you around town
parade you in front of her friends,
family,
neighbors
even the neighbors’ dogs
and the dogs will laugh at you
because they know something you don’t

do yourself a favor
keep those three words deep inside
use them to keep your heart strong
and fierce
don’t let them slip off your tongue
and keep the uncertainty held up 
like a shield on a battlefield
protecting those three words
they yearn to hear

and if you find yourself at a point
where you have to say them
forget my thoughtful advice
and finally, say them
but make sure you mean them
and say them clearly
and with honor
but not often

she’ll ask you to say them over and over
but don’t listen
say them once a month
but not every month
keep her guessing
keep her on her toes
because love shouldn’t sound like a broken record
it should sound like a violin concerto in the dark