Night Shifts Too Soon

When I look at you deeply what do I see?
The person you are or I want you to be?
The labored-over argument of ardor,
Should I lift her high or quietly guard her?
Her flaws are not flaws to me, but cause for soft
Attention; the tides that rise and fall, leave coiffed
And polished stones aside, beauty formed by wear.
Is wanting to change what you love ever fair?
To better myself, that I'll never not try,
But to ask of the mirror a new reply...
When I look at you deeply what do I see?
The person you are or I want you to be?

The labored-over argument of ardor,
Should I lift her high or quietly guard her?
It's the echo that's scary when I've said all
I can, yet feel the sense Love begins to pall
When sentiments are spread open eagerly;
Is it waste? Am I a miser meagerly
Clawing for feelings I've longed to see in you?
Am I a bad person for the way I view
Love? Or is it blasphemy to try and quell
My heart's true nature, to say I never fell?
When I look at you deeply what do I see?
The person you are or I want you to be?

Her flaws are not flaws to me, but cause for soft
Attention; the tides that rise and fall, leave coiffed
The bitter run-off that collects in my doubt.
It's Winter and the night shifts too soon, without
You I am all salty skies and stormy cold.
The thought of us warm together again, old,
Comes to linger and I realize I don't
Want to change you; and if I can, well I won't.
Love is purest by pure intentions designed,
Even alone, with love just kept in the mind.
When I look at you deeply what do I see?
The person you are or I want you to be?