What I Should Have Said
Romantic poem. For Ruth, my wife. For the I Didn't Say That Out Loud Challenge
She brings me sunshine with her smile
challenges me, coaxes my very best—
even when I resist.
-
She is fierce, intelligent, emotionally mature,
but also loves ridiculous puns
the kind that leaves her bent over, giggling.
-
She makes me feel like I could topple giants,
tackle the menacing Kraken,
all while telling me the truth—
not sugar-coated, but necessary.
-
As my wife, my best friend, my confidante
there's no one else I trust more
even when I don't trust myself,
I place that trust with Ruth.
-
All that without saying how much I adore her,
still fancy her, 22 years down the line and
can't imagine waking up to anyone else.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: So, a few days ago, Ruth, my wife, asked my why I loved her. I gave some reasons - I thought I had done well. In hindsight, they were a bit lacklustre really. So, this is what I really should have said to her when she asked.
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About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (24)
Congratulations on your leaderboard placement Paul! And moreso for catching such a winner of a wife 🎆
Congrats on your leaderboard placement, Paul💖 I can see why you fell in love with such a woman. I wish you many more happy years together.
This is a beautiful tribute to your wife. Congrats on making the leaderboard too!
What you could have said was congrats Ruth, I'm making you some money this week!! Congrats Paul on fourth place on the leaderboard this week!!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your Leaderboard placement! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Such a beautiful tribute to your wife, Paul!
I have been in this boat before, being put on the spot and knowing a verbal answer failed to communicate the extent of your feelings! Glad you were able to write this! Beautiful expression of such committed love!
This is so, so lovely!!! 😭♥️
Absolutely lovely, Pau. You are a big softy at heart then 😊😊
Ah charming ! ☺️ 💚
This was lovely Paul. What a gorgeous tribute. I feel like everyone deserves a poem like this when they ask - why do you love me. Just perfect.
I'm always a bit....I'm not sure of the word, but the feeling sounds like "Chnneeeee" when I read these things. Like, I like it, but my head shrinks into my neck, and I curl inside myself like a timid hedgehog. It's lovely. It's a beautiful poem, and you are a talented and hard-working wordsmith. Also, thank you to everyone for their kind words.
Just beautiful Paul 🥰 What lovely sentiments to carve into being. Gorgeous picture of your lady wife 😍
Awww, this was so sweet. Has Ruth read this?
I love your wonderful prose... I bet your wife does too!
Aww, this is so sweet, Paul
There's the soft side of our Sir Paul!! So well written Paul!!
Aww. I just love this. Well done, buddy. And what a great picture of Ruth with that infectious smile. 😁
This is so beautiful and touching. The perfect words may not always come at the start, but they do come later. You are a good man, Paul. And a romantic at heart (*insert romantic cat noise here*). Wishing you and Ruth the best.
Awww this is adorable
awwww, this is so sweet
I bet she would have loved this answer. I love the deep love this shows
Beautifully written. Everyone deserves a love like that. And those of us lucky enough to find it should do our best to express that as often as possible, with words, actions, poetry, and prose.
Well said, Paul.