the storm in my chest softens to a hum

words racing through my brain

turn into wisps of air

as our heartbeats slowly sync,

you settle my turmoil.

You are my

I-wake-up-and-think-of-you

love.

In spaces between breaths

ends of unfinished sentences

stopped at red lights

cruising through greens

loading new Netflix episodes

stirring honey in tea

gazing into eyes

reminiscent of your blues

you steal moments away from me;

I am yours in ways

you do not know

and I give you everything,

willingly.

You will always be safe with me,

you say.

Every night we untie

the knots of situations

put salve on cuts from the day—

no nick too small,

no wound too hideous.

Every morning we prepare

for our circumstances—

with you, I do so with hope.

Some days,

I just cannot face the world alone.

Love me like the ocean loves the shore

sometimes hard, sometimes gentle

retreating a bit to let her breathe

but never too far, never for long.

It was not until I met you

that I understood

I had never been in love before.

My love might be

hard to hear

but I promise

it is here.

How exquisite it is

to have someone want to chase

every thought

meander around each memory lane

and make a home in my brain.

I want to be your favorite book

the one you read over and over again

take me off the shelf, wear me out

{don’t worry, I have a strong spine}

understand my heartbreaks

stain me with your tears

dog-ear your favorite bits

take notes, memorize details

read between my lines

find new meaning every time

make me your favorite book,

because you are mine.

Do you feel it too?

We have such a connection,

you say.

Yes, it scares me

how similar we are,

I reply.

We were sipping tea, watching rain fall

when you whispered above the storm,

Aristotle believed the sound of thunder

was the clash of two clouds.

That may have been when

I fell in love with you.

Or maybe it was our sunrise walks

turning this night owl chipper at dawn.

People say, Don’t let someone change you,

but how can we not change

with every encounter

every relationship

every love?

We take a bit of someone

give a bit of us away.

I have changed since your love

and I like

who I have become.

In the clouds

and tea leaves,

the ink blots

and tarot cards

all I ever see is

you and me.

Love me

like the world loves

Beyoncé.

In a world so determined

to sort us in boxes—

are you happy or sad

a morning person or night

woke warrior or shy

brown or white?

In a world that forgets

how ridiculous it is for a being

to be just one thing

when we are stardust and earth,

ashes and flowers

all mangled together.

In a world that demands

I piece myself apart

to claim one identity or another,