you used to see the world through rose-tinted glasses;
i'm glad i convinced you otherwise, but all the same,
whatever hurt you harbour, place it in my hands and walk away;
i never wanted to be burdened by anything
until i met you.

whatever weight you bear, let me carry it, or if—
because you are strong enough to handle it, i know,
and i deserve it, i know—
we will shoulder it together,
for however long it takes
to throw it off some sorry cliff or just
adjust to the ache in our spines, oh, my friend,
i never want to see you cry, or at least,
because i know you will,
i never want to be anywhere but by your side;

i will take up your weight in my arms
for those moments when you aren't
strong enough to handle it
(strength ebbs—even yours—infrequently),
when you don't deserve it but it happens anyway,
when you are forced to acknowledge
that our world is imperfect and unjust
and that you can't right every wrong
no matter how much you want to.
i know how much you want to.

in those moments please know,
it's a good thing to know,
i hate to be self-important (i don't) but i suspect
the most consequential wrong you've ever righted
is never going to be anywhere but by your side.