A Poem for Ricardo Reis

When I say, "I love you"
Do I not congratulate myself, regardless of the truth?
Does saying "this is so" make it so?
Would it not be best to say
"You love me" - and have those words be true?
And in reciprocal to hear, "you love me too"?
I say let the loved decide
Who is loving who.

Who is Ricardo Reis?