Love isn’t always romantic

Sometimes love is playing the song you know
will make the person in the passenger seat
smile just a little bit bigger

Sometimes love is staying up all night
waiting for each new text to come
that says they made it another couple minutes

Sometimes love is letting them have the last piece
of grandma’s special recipe

Sometimes love is reading the book
someone mentioned in passing is their favorite
so that you can have a reason to talk to them again

Sometimes love is telling them your secret
maybe the one you told a few
or the one you only told your heart

Sometimes love is letting the brother you swear is annoying
sleep in your room when he doesn’t want to be alone in the dark

Sometimes love is a showering with the lights off
so you can love yourself without fear

Sometimes love is sharing the jokes you hear
and think they would like

Sometimes love is memorizing your best friend’s schedule
so you know when they are free before you ask
because you know they hate to have to say no

Sometimes love is pushing them away
because you know they deserve better

Sometimes love is smiling when they steal a fry
and rather than calling them out
you steal some of theirs

Sometimes love is seeing a pair of heart shaped sunglasses
and immediately thinking it is totally their style

Sometimes love is waving
at the people in the car next to you on the freeway
at the little kid who asked you for a sucker at work
at your friends in the hall you don’t have class with this semester

Sometimes love is offering to order for them
when their anxiety becomes too much

Sometimes love is putting yourself first
you can’t help others if you are in a million scattered pieces

Sometimes love is sitting in the make shift audience in your aunt’s basement
watching your family put on a concert of toy drums
and jumping up when they pull you on the stage of cardboard boxes

Sometimes love is inside jokes from years ago
you aren’t even sure how to explain anymore
but get you on the floor each and every time

Sometimes love is not holding back
introducing yourself
giving people the chance to be someone to love

Sometimes love is holding their hand
as they get their third piercing
even though they are terrified of needles

Sometimes love is a teddy bear
given from family to the newborn

Sometimes love is walking them down the isle
with a kiss on their forehead

Sometimes love is noticing the words and topics that trigger them
and when they are used
watch for the signs

Sometimes love is watching the children
while the parents take a break

Sometimes love is getting a kitkat from the gas station
when you go by yourself
because they are your brother’s favorite

Love isn’t always romantic
Love isn’t always mind-numbing passion

Sometimes love is the small things
the things you learn
the way you adapt to each person
the protectiveness you give

Love isn’t always romantic
But it's how I love