I wanted — Summary

Njogu_MagzRomantic

I wanted to write of our love, I wanted to write of how I felt I wanted to jot down my emotions I wanted to put our story on paper I wanted to take of our adventures I wanted to draw your face I wanted to paint you I wanted to write you a letter I wanted to profess and confess I wanted to make you a meal I wanted to surprise you I wanted to buy you gifts I wanted to circumnavigate the earth with you I wanted to count the stars with you I wanted to trace a river's source with you I wanted to climb the Everest with you I wanted to dance on a dune with you.

I wanted to sing for you I wanted to create a tune for you I wanted to speak of your beauty I wanted to slumber in your arms I wanted to rhyme your ideal woman I wanted to touch your soul I wanted to tell my dreams to you I wanted to make the sun rise in the evening I wanted to make the moon rise in the morning I wanted to let the vegetation know I wanted to let the animals know I wanted to let the people know I wanted us to age and grow I wanted you to see my future I wanted you to be my future I wanted my forever with you I wanted you, I wanted us.

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Njogu_Magz builds this poem from a single repeated phrase, "I wanted," and the repetition is the whole point. The speaker lists everything they hoped to do for someone they loved: write letters, cook a meal, buy gifts, climb Everest, dance on a dune. The wishes start small and personal, then grow bigger and more impossible, until the speaker wants to make the sun rise in the evening and tell every plant, animal and person about their love.

Because every line is in the past tense, the poem feels like looking back on something lost. The speaker never says what went wrong, but the steady "wanted" suggests none of these things happened, or that the relationship has ended. The mood is tender and wistful, with an ache of regret underneath. The ending is the most striking part. After all those grand wishes, the poem narrows to "I wanted you, / I wanted us," which feels quiet, plain and sad.

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