I wish to paint you a picture
That's drawn from my world
This paper is my canvas
The brushstrokes are my words.

I wish only for your happiness
For you to have sweet dreams at night
For life to be all you imagined
And to give you a love that's out of sight!

I have so little left of myself to give
The past has made me weary and weak
But fear not if I sit in silence
Sometimes looking at you it's hard to speak.

I sometimes think if I say too much
That you'll get tired and walk away
So I'm trying to watch how much I tell you
Because more than anything, I want you to stay.

I wish to paint you a beautiful picture
Drawn from the center of my world
For that's where you are in my life
I always wanted to be your girl.

We were given this great blessing
The opportunity to finally be together
But the ball's in our court now
And it's our job to Make It Last Forever.

So let's lay down in our bed tonight
Soul to soul, Heart to Heart, face to face
Feeling energy as we Two Become One
And let any doubts we have be erased.

To spend my life with you is my goal
To love you and hold you for all our days
Keep your heart beating closely to mine
May all we've created never, ever fade.

I'm trying to paint you a picture
After all this, is it any more clear
Can you tell we're something beautiful
Does it give you a twinge of fear?

Are you like me my sweetest love
And your only fear is getting hurt?
Tell me what to do so you know for sure
That with me you won't get burnt.

I hope these words reach you inside
I pray that this painting is enough
For my love, my words are all I have
Really, I'm weak but I play as if I'm tough.

Truthfully, I need your protection
Sometimes things aren't as they seem
This is my canvas, brushstrokes the words
And loving with you is better than a dream.

This is a complicated painting
Drawn from the center of my world
This poem is my finished canvas
I'll always want to be your only girl.

           Nikki Battles
      April 14, 2018
© Hailey Raine