The Lover/The Stranger Poem by Sonya Florentino

(inspired by the novel and movie 'The Lover' by Marguerite Duras)

... I saw the movie 'The Lover'
based on that wonderful book
I don’t know how the writer knew-
The Lover was you...

You never told me that you loved me
I never told you that I did
But we made love to each other
as if both of us agreed:
That words weren’t necessary
Or words were not enough
Or maybe somehow we both knew
it wouldn't last

You were stranger than a stranger
and so was I to you
But we learned to touch each other like
true lovers do
We shared English as a language
but we couldn't get it right
We found a truer language in the
dark of night

You showed me I was beautiful
I saw it in your eyes
You knew that when you touched me
I was happy if I cried
You gave me what I needed
at that moment in my life
We've parted ways but you remain
that stranger in disguise

You never told me that you loved me
but I always knew you did
I just hope you knew that I loved you
and in silence we agreed:
Sometimes words aren’t necessary
Sometimes words are not enough
Or maybe we both didn't want to
take them back

I never told you that I loved you
But I hope you know I do
And I pray that you will always always
love me... too