If you’ve been reading my work for a while—or even if you haven’t—I consider myself to be a person filled with a lot of big emotions. And one of those that tends to come out in waves, especially during February, is love.
But beyond the feeling, I tend to turn those big emotions and themes into muses for my favorite form of self-expression: poetry. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, here’s five haikus about the different types of love I’m lucky to have in my life. Each poem, like the candy and the name of the article, will be followed by a ‘conversation heart,’ aka the reason I wrote the poem.
The Love That Didn’t Last
Wanted only you
Grew tied to the idea
You wanted me too
Conversation Heart: This one could be said about all the crushes I’ve ever had. I’m still learning how to separate loving love and loving someone, but until then… At least I can write some poems about it.
The Love for My Friends
I’m most me with you
Will this be a memory?
With you, I am whole
Conversation Heart: When I’m with friends, I always try to stay in the moment while reserving a part of my brain to hold onto these times together, kind of like the quote, “we didn’t know we were making memories; we just knew we were having fun.”
The Love for My Family
Houses that built me
Near or far or wherever,
Light is on for me
Conversation Heart: Especially while I’m away at school, I miss my house and the people who make the house feel like a home. This one goes out to all those who know that family bonds go across state lines.
The Love for My Dog
Big, brown, floppy ears
Flop onto the ottoman
To be close to me
Conversation Heart: Although I know she can’t read, I miss my stinky basset hound, Birdie. Whenever I’m at home, I make it a point to be around her so that I can give her all the love and affection that she doles back in puppy love.
The Love for Myself
We have come so far
But life is full of journeys
Where will I stop next?
Conversation Heart: I don’t think the idea of self-love will ever be one that I completely master. By acknowledging that I’ve made strides, though, is very important and definitely cause for celebration in poetic form.
During this month of love, let love flow like lines of poetry to all the lucky people (and pets) in your life! Mwah.