Love Is My Name for Her

Are you the reason I say “I love you”

Ten times before the coffee’s done?

The reason I hold her a little tighter

Every night before we sleep comes?

‘Cause I remember your love like firelight

A warm glow cupped inside my hands

You told me I was finally worthy

So I gave you everything I am

But your love melted like ice in summer

Turned to water, slipped right through

And when it disappeared forever

You swore the blame belonged to me and I believed you

So I punished myself for years

Thinking I was born impossible to love

Every broken piece inside me

Pointing upward like it came from God above

But then she came along

And gave her heart to me

Not perfect, not a fairytale

Just steady when life bleeds

Now I tell her I love her in the morning

I tell her I love her at night

I tell her I love her in the middle of a fight

When we’re angry, when we’re tired

When nothing’s going right

Because my wife is my love

That’s the name I call her by

And she will never have to wonder

If she’s living in my heart tonight

Maybe I love her this loudly because of you

I’m healed, I know it, mostly

But scars still ache beneath the skin

There’s still a little shard you left there

And if I touch it, pain kicks in

I know now it wasn’t all my fault

Some people leave no matter what you do

But I’m built in a way that still whispers

Maybe I didn’t say “I love you” enough to you

Maybe I didn’t show it

Maybe I let silence speak instead

So now I leave no room for question

Every word gets said

I tell her I love her in the morning

I tell her I love her at night

I tell her I love her in the middle of a fight

When the world feels heavy

And we’re barely getting by

Because my wife is my love

That’s the truth I live inside

And she will never stand there doubting

If I’ll stay right by her side

No, she’ll never wonder where she stands

Like I once did with you

Some people break your heart and teach you fear

Some people heal the wound and stay for years

And maybe that’s the strange mercy in goodbye

You learn what love should sound like

The second time

So I tell her I love her in the morning

I tell her I love her at night

I tell her I love her in the middle of a fight

And when we’re old and shaking

And fading with the light

I’ll still call her “Love”

With every breath I have

Because she took the shattered pieces

And built a home from all the glass

And maybe you’re the reason

I never leave those words unsaid

But she’s the reason

They finally mean what they should’ve meant