It’s important that you understand
that
no matter how much
I love you
– which is quite a lot
like, two loads, actually –
what I love most about you
is your long, lovely
lustrous hair.

Your hair is what I remember
in our times apart.
Your hair is what I cling to
in the middle of a fight
and try as I might
I don’t believe
I could love you half as much
without that hair.

And I know it’s shallow
and I know what’s coming.
I know that you can’t always keep what you want
and that time changes
even the most basic things about someone.
I understand that in seven years
every particle in each of our bodies
will have been updated
upgraded, irretrievably altered.
I know all that.

And I know you have a decision
coming up
regarding chemotherapy.
But, as you decide what to do
– which is entirely your choice,
of course –
keep in mind:
I can’t swear I’ll care
if you lose that there hair.