the places i will speak love

i will not speak love
in an open field,
where my words will travel unknown
distances, leaving me
uncertain
as to their inevitable destination.

i will not speak love
in the midst of
wave interference, similar
patterns canceling
each other, as though recognizing
the fear
of their own similarity.

i will not speak love
while other bodies block
the pathway of sound, syllables tumbling
to the
ground
like leaves
from a tree
(no one to catch them).

i will speak love only
from a stairwell,
curled into myself & trembling,
where i can be certain that my words
will echo back.