Since The Word 'Love' Is So Overused

then a truer measure of our freedom in speech
is how much respect we can work into the words
we share, and hoard it when we talk to ourselves-
who reading this has never tried that? Or keeping a diary?
This respect would make it clear to those we know
that we do know them, and know them to be needy,
but they are in no way insufficient. We are there to help
see their needs met, so with us they can be themselves.