For several people, one in particular

i finally figured it out

love has a speech impediment

or maybe love was too busy to take speech 101
or study diction
or even read the dictionary

too busy watching out for things
and taking care of things
and putting things away
and fixing things
most of which love did mostly silently
listening
in case i cried out in the night
or the phone rang and it was me
or i came in from mowing, asking for ice water

or maybe love was a little too tired to speak clearly
sleep-deprived
from staying up late to make sure the storm passed
or driving late so i could get up the next morning
a little more rested
or typing my paper for me (how many times?)

or maybe the shots hadn't worn off
when love got a tooth filled for me
or took a punch in the mouth
that i deserved
or love's jaw was clamped shut to keep from yelping
when the rubbing alcohol hit the knee
all skinned up
so mine wouldn't hit the gravel
just like any number of other scrapes, bruises, cuts, sprains, and so on
that love took for me

or love mumbled
with a mouth full of needles and pins
stitching my torn world and me back together

or maybe love just isn't a blabbermouth like me

or maybe love just doesn't say things quite the way i would
because love knows something i don't

so now
at least sometimes
when i hear
don't you want to wear a warmer coat?
or
drive carefully!
or
why didn't you call?

if i listen closely enough
it sounds more like

i love you