how you know you love someone

You can break me

You know exactly how to do it

know exactly the tender places

the weak ones

the places of me

that aren't all shored up

You know how far to push

and where

You know how hard to hit

to draw blood and tears

You can take this strong body

and tear it apart

with words and blows and meanings

throwing the pieces

so far apart

I’ll never be whole again

You can break me

you know all the ways

to make me fall

when I’m vulnerable

soft and scared

because you’ve seen me these ways

And because of this

I know that I love you

because you can break me

utterly destroy me

But you won’t

no, you hand me a hammer

and some nails, instead

and say, “Let’s build”