Chest Declaration Poem by Raj Dronamraju

I wrote your name down on a slip of paper
And put it in a small envelope, the type we pay our bills with
I tucked it into the right breast pocket of my shirt
And lay down with my arms placed to my chest

For you, I made a commitment slow timed for the ages
Lurching, gurgling towards outer dread
Straight from a place of closeness without room for hesitation

The day I found you, I'd been running
In place while buildings and streets flew by me
The identity of the tempest that stopped movement

What do we say when we run out of words of affection?
Let thoughts speak with immediate, instinctual voice
"You mean everything to me" not said by a robot

I'll keep it close, I'll dare it to happen through a combination of smooth talking and barely concealed desire
Rawboned movement to privilege
Impromptu expression of the deepest love possible