A poem about how the idea of love changes in a lifetime, from childhood onward. |
I. They all kept raving, about Some fiery, rapturous thing: Listening, then with a child’s ears, I collected the jigsaw pieces, analyzing The edges of their words, looking for Corresponding tabs and recesses. Desperate to see it all fit— I wanted the Mona Lisa, but They gave me a million colored tiles, Said, “Good luck!” And walked away instead. II. In innocence, love seemed Quite a violent thing... You had a crush, perhaps You fell in love, and then he Broke your heart. III. Rinse, rinse, and repeat. IV. I thought it would never happen to me. Once, I thought I’d best them- The four-letter words; I’d swallow them, and be safe Forever, safe from Time, Fear, Hope, Loss, Pain, Love. V. Life whispered in my ear, sighing “Don’t be so sure.” Time met me at the door, Took my hand, led me up Steep trails, through thick Patches of green’s every hue, Led up through the years, I grew Into a woman, in love with Water; Music; Sky; Trees; The Color Blue. And one autumn day, he came along, and then We happened—because he loved them, too. |