The Phonetics of Love

“I love you.” You, referring to you.

“…too.” ..., Referring to me.

You never say the word “you”.
“You” has not been remunerated
In the sense that love has a value.
Maybe I still need to earn it.

For now, “You” as referring to me,
Has been replaced with the schwa.
It’s that upside down e you see

in  the dictionary

to know how to pronounce words.

But, more precisely, in this case,
It’s a mid-central rounded vowel.
Like the sound you hear
At the end of the word “pencil”.

On the cloudier days,
I’ve even been replaced
With no sound at all.

Instead, I am an initial unaspirated glottal stop.
It’s the silent pause that we all make
Before we start a sentence
That begins with a vowel.

One day I hope for the full “I love you.”
But, that may have to wait.

Because right now,
Apparently, I am not worth the effort,
To get all of “You”.