Practice Run

One line often wrapped into two on mobile screens.

They say before you love someone, you should try to learn to love you.

I think that is true.

And to an extent, I have followed those rules.

But I can't help but notice I love myself more when I'm with you.

You call me all the things I should call myself but have not yet learned to.

It doesn't matter how stretch-marked my arms are when I just want them wrapped around you.

It doesn't matter I'm a little overweight if your arms can still reach around me.

It doesn't matter that I'm ace-spec if you still respect my boundaries.

It doesn't matter I'm not the best at poetry because you'd still read what I have to say.

It doesn't matter I'm still learning because you'd read it either way.

It doesn't matter I'm not the best at poetry because you make me want to learn

Because maybe then I could put how you make me feel into words.

It doesn't matter I don't know the rules, because you make me want to break them all.

It doesn't matter how high you take me, because I know you'll catch me if I fall.

It doesn't matter how bad my day is when I see your notifications

Because after all this time, they still get me as excited as a vacation.

I don't know what I'm doing, but you make me want to start writing.

The urge to wait until I learn is something I am actively fighting.

I don't know exactly what it is that I am reciting.

I just know it's a relief that all my feelings, I am finally confiding.

-to be reiterated in Bees & Milkweed, the blog post.