Don't let people love you for the wrong reasons. Do not let someone love you because of how much you have. Do not let someone love you because of your physical appearance. Do not let someone love you because you both are feeling lonely. It is not a type of love you want. It is a love that will fill you for the time being, but will leave you feeling emptier than ever. It is a love that puts a voice in your head whispering, "love is all the same." This love is a love that is the farthest thing from what love actually is. Real love will not burn your throat 6 months later. Real love will not leave you gasping for air through the sobs. Real love will not be hard to leave behind. Real love fills you and it feels like nothing could ever make you empty. When the person who gives you this love leaves, it will more sweet than bitter. You got to be a part of them. You loved them. They loved you. Wow. What a wonderful thing you got to experience. Real love is nothing but love. Love should not cause pain. And if it does, it is not the love you want.

They say keep your head up
They say its one step at a time
But if your head is held too high
How can you be sure
The next step you take
Is onto solid ground?

I don't want you to fall down

They say life is crazy
They say death unavoidable
they say a lot of things
But I've never heard them say
They only want
Everyone to be happy

I don't want you to fall down

once
i was a little child
full of optimistic wonder

then
i fell into an ocean
and its current swept me under

down
i sank, as it engulfed me
the sun-streaked surface, a shadow became

then
my heart slowed down its beating
and in the dark, I felt a Name

once
the feeling overcame me
i knew i must discern its source

     i called the Name with final breath
     and yielded myself to its force

Death
swirled up and all around me
and tight in her arms, i was held

down
i sank, as she engulfed me
once-flickering hope, in an instant, quelled

          and I died.
          and I died.

FLASH
with sudden blinding brightness
a force grabbed me from death’s shroudings

up
i rose, in swift ascension
and the speed was overwhelming

then
my soul recalled the feeling
and i felt the Name once more

when
at last, i stopped ascending
the Name is all that I longed for

so
i followed with the masses
i chased the paths of those ahead

soon
the masses ceased to wander;
i followed where their gazes led

          then
          i was a little child
          full of optimistic wonder

          and
          i finally knelt before
          the Name of Love my heart was after

science tells you
growing into a woman
means a fuller chest and
hips just beginning to smile.
it's the new smell of blood.
it's thoughts fermenting
from grapes to wine.

art shows you
becoming a woman
is a series of quiet
revolutions.
a blessing to bear.
taking a little girl's hand.
leading her into
a great Somewhere.
wiping her tears
because she is afraid.

but logic and art are two
halves of one fruit.
we as humans are living proof.
with rational minds.
with paint on our hands.

so listen to yourself.

you will realize
becoming a woman
is a miracle.
a gift. a grace.
a poem dedicated to all
the little girls
and the women that screamed
for them.