The lighthouse stood on the shore and I swam to it- the lighthouse was full of love- a love I had always dreamed of- it was solid and unlike water which runs through my hands a love who will never leave and truly accepts me
3 years ago I took the wheel for the first time by myself and there was no going to the dependent woman I once was 3 years ago I said fuck it, if I crash and die, it will be fine after all Iβve been suicidal since I could remember 3 years ago I took the keys and landed in the driverβs seat And from that day on, I understood the power I held within and how never again Iβll give that power to others
Heβll ask me, βHow are you? And I wanted to say– βMiserable. Bad. sad. I hate you. I wished for your death a thousand times. I miss you. I love you.β Instead, I said, βIβm okayβ And in the silence between our texts I wondered βWhy? Why did he come back? Why did I let him back in ? Why do I love him?β
I wrote this poem in October of 2020. This one was really hard to post because of the content that includes sexual assault but I believe it’s important to share this part of my story.
so true
There was no way out- and so I pretended – I acted the part of a willful lover even when I wasnβt willing
There was no way out And he refused to read -the subtle hints of no -in between the lines of forced complacency
There was no way out And he kept taking me Every which way he wanted Even when my whimpers turned into sobs
There was no way out and I was terrified I needed to let him have my body to save my life
just call me J.Lo without the ass because my ex (if we can even call him that) came back to me after 2 years of sobriety weβre the low rent version of Bennifer since weβre not millionaires or celebrities (yet) Iβm just a working class immigrant poet and heβs my ex whatevership nordic muse
He swallowed 2 years of my life without meaning to. He swallowed 2 years of my love that he never intended to He swallowed all of my intense and innermost feelings and left me with an emptiness inside. He swallowed my confidence and turned me into a broken shell of a woman. And slowly Iβm trying to gather the broken pieces and repair my soul–
There were parts of myself I forgot when I was with you I forgot my self worth I forgot my dignity I forgot my self confidence I made the mistake of placing my worth and happiness in your unsure hands I made the mistake of giving you my heart I made the mistake of not knowing when to walk away I made the mistake in believing you would change I made the mistake of wasting my time and love on you
what will be done with pure intentions and in alignment with my values will nurture my creative spirit, will be the ultimate recipe for success and will be a legacy of authenticity for future generations Sometimes I wonder who Iβm doing it for and I find the answer when I look in the mirror when I look at my sons what I imagine my grandchildren and Iβm committed again to my lifeβs purpose
Hold me close to you and lie to me about how youβll never leave and how you donβt mind that Iβm crazy I need to hear it while things are good I need to believe it while you love me I know all too well how every single one of love stories Soon enough turn into epic tragedies that take me years to heal from
telling our stories, reading our poetry building community is the salve for humanity letβs start another revolution of love except this time without the drugs this time letβs make something more inclusive, more accepting of everyone letβs keep the music, the frolicking in the fields, the free spirits, and letβs become a sanctuary for one another if we do this, weβll have a shot at breaking away from the curse of violence that plagues this nation
to really love me, you have to know every part of me and not just the parts I show you but every single inch of my soul itβs observing me when Iβm quiet or when I laugh in the most uncomfortable moments to really love me, you have to learn about me read my essays, my stories, my poetry and understand what is not written between the lines to really love me, you have to know not just what I like but what I really loathe and why to really love me, you have to accept everything about me
my emotional hangover drains me and anxiety and insecurity sets in – He makes my heart race- He inspires poetry Heβll be another tragic love story I know heβs not a βfinallyβ Heβs more of a βmaybeβ maybe heβll leave , maybe he wonβt I wonder how heβll grow tire of me
the lovergirl in me manifesting to change my prophecy
thereβs a love poem for me being written somewhere in the universe and it will appear in the most unexpected way it wonβt be something forced, it wonβt be something illicit or immoral it will fit perfectly into my chaotic world of community and poetry and while this man is bound to get on my nerves (like they all do) Heβll be strong enough to withstand my nonsense and mood swings Heβll be the lover daydream Iβve been waiting for since I was 15 and my kids with watch us and say βew, cringeβ
Will your light illuminate the dark and negative thoughts I have about love? or will you be another one who fill me up with more self doubt and makes me feel worthless Will you really mean it when you tell me you love me? or will you leave the minute I lose my shit?
I welcome fall with open arms looking forward to a new season of changes with the leaves changing colors, cooler temperatures, exhibiting the beauty of my curves in sweater dresses and everything halloween I welcome fall with open arms a season where much laughter is shared, more poetry written, and Iβm filled with a brand new purpose and determination to be better I welcome fall with open arms where I keep thriving in my solitude and understand being single isnβt a curse But a blessing instead filled with freedom and love for myself without owing anyone any explanations for my actions or words