weak flutters
in and out;
holding your hand

a heart mutters
in seconds–stutters
and we're under the stars

blue eyes meeting mine
your soft voice
the things I wanted to say in a line

but falling apart
I'm unsure
how to say them right
in this long Seattle night

your smile
encourages mine
hopeful thoughts fall into line

my heart flutters
beats and stutters
to the rhythm 
of the wind's mutters 
of those words I thought up

weakly muttering,
confident but stuttering
as a poet would do
"I love you"
and a quiet
"I love you too."