lessons learned

"love is the key to happiness" 

plastered on the door of my closet

i am beginning to learn it is 

and what it is not

love is not:

a 2am text

attachment

possession

telling me how to dress

a necklace with your name

lists of friends i can longer talk to

constant communication

lying about where i am

mocking my ambitions

formulaic

love is:

an 8am text

celebrating his achievements

accepting the past

patience

offering advice and support

a walk in the park (literally and metaphorically)

tulips 

bookstores

fighting for causes together

candor

people love in different ways 

but i like ours the best

home sick

sometimes i pretend dark clouds are mountains

and wait for them to part to see the sun

but my eyes drift to monstrous buildings
a small candle flickering in each window

we are not amongst the birds
we are the planes

pretending that it's natural to fly
our feet firm on the ground

all that is true is within ourselves