secretly i volunteer at a pop-up confessional
and as people confess their sins to me in the darkness two underlying themes exist
– they feel unloved or undeserving of love
– they don’t recognize actual love when it’s right in front of them.
now part of this has to do with hollywood and books and a lack of a good education in public schools
something as important as love should be taught better, and in more than a few classes in elementary and high school.
but it isnt
we have to guess. we have to ask our friends. and our friends dont know. so we read about it but those people are selling books. so we watch sixteen candles and sex in the city and porn and true hollywood stories
but none of them get to the root. none of them teach you the actual dynamics.
if love was a house most of us would be homeless
is what we think.
but thats so untrue.
the sun comes up every morning out of love.
the birds pollinate and photosynthesis occurs due to crazy love.
scratch your skin and watch it heal
work out and feel your muscles grow
talk to someone and hear what they know
love love love love.
but we are taught that love is this or that and comes with this thing or that
thing
the things are not the thing.
we know this and yet valentines day is coming and its all about the things
that is not love.
love is staring in their eyes and not thinking about your phone
or the boiling kettle
or the upcoming bills
or any of the minutiae
love is that instant
it’s why we are alive.
and what will be gone
when we croak.
and now you know i love you,
because i do.