Love

I used to think love arrivedalready named. That someone would hand it to me like a language.One others had learned in childhood while I was absent. I thought love was duty. Not warmth.Not always kindness. Just…remaining. I mistook proximityfor affection. Silencefor safety. Obligationfor care. Then, I thought love was fireworks. It was warm fuzzy and…

In Becoming

I have learned to inhabitthe spaces between words,where truth sitslike morning dew on grass. Once, I thought strength meanttaking up less space,folding myself into cornersuntil my edges disappeared. But wisdom comesin the gentle unfurlinglike ferns in spring,patient and inevitable. My heart has becomea listening room,walls weathered softfrom holding others' stories. There is no grandeur here,only…