The seen poem

I see the sunlight that slants through the trees and turns your eyes gold.
I see that this dress hugs your shoulders and pulls my eyes towards your collarbones
I see the way you throw your mouth open when you laugh as though your body literally cannot contain all the joy it holds.
I saw you when you stopped traffic to help a single frog across the road.
I see you pour love, like maple syrup into your job.
Day after day, I see you come home exhaused because making sap is ahrd work but the end result is so sweet.
I saw you when you coldly informed that teenage boy that "gay" is not an insult.
I see you wear that knotted rainbow friendship braclet every day, daring anyone to notice.
I see the joy you take in painting your eyes in glitter and I know that bright red lipstick is the armor you put on before heading into battle and I know your name is your war cry.

I hear that when you ask "are you alright?" you're saying"I love you"
And when you sing loudly and out of key that's because you believe that every human should have a voice, no matter the pitch.
I hear you shouting "fuck" into tunnels just to see if there's anyone on the other end.
I hear you whispering to stay cats "it's going to be ok. It's going to be ok."
I hear you silently counting seconds between thunder
I hear you impatiently tapping out rhythms on your legs.
I hear you hate to wait.
I heard you the time you called me on the phone. Seconds oozing into minutes as you searched for the words. I heard you when you  told me I was your first love, words tender as a baby bird, and just as vulnerable.