open your arms wide,
and accept a hug from Aphrodite
in that moment of safety and acceptance found in her arms,
understand that love is no guilty pleasure,
it is a necessity.
in that moment
you can visualize love as a source
that can be shared,
but to survive you must keep some for yourself.
accept Aphrodite's hug, my dear.

My poetry is akin to Aphrodite.

My words are doves, tears in their eyes.
And when I release them, their thoughts land in the minds of others, growing like seedlings.

And like Aphrodite, tales of its beauty might as well spread.

With much difficulty, I shall accept.

My physical form dulls my light
and at this point, mostly at night
existing isn't normal.

She tells me my hands are warm.
In that moment
I feel the raging fire
once used
to burn my ancestors.

And that makes me wonder
Why haven't I burned anything down
except myself?