Happy Valentine's Day

Cheers to All the Loves We Can Experience

Entering a romantic relationship is not only learning the ways those in the relationship communicate, but also learning what are the others’ “unsolvable problems.”

As someone who has been in a relationship for eight years and counting, my advice to folks seeking partnerships is to not give up at the first bout of conflict. Relationships are about keeping that channel of communication open. If done right, fights don’t cause irreparable damage. Rather, fights can discussions to further deepen the relationship. What’s most important is for all parties involved to maintain the intent to understand each other.

I’m a high-maintenance person. I require patience and softness in all of my relationships. My partner has held my hand through all phases of our relationship, as we waxed and waned. It’s hard to put the weight of my gratitude and relief in my writing.

The funny story behind this poem is that its title was inspired by a joke my partner made. I don’t recall the exact joke, but it involved the word “hellion”. And in that moment, I wanted to include that word into a poem as a gesture of my love.

Hel(l)ion as Perfect Family
for eric for our forever 

Where nakedness is
another form of laughter,
where touch is shared not taken.
Charging ions as response. 
As synonym to dilated pupils.
Routine is appealing on paper,
but structure is 
built from skin on skin.
In conversation. How does
lightning travel across teeth?
Throated storms
the mother of promise. 
I mistook he as Helios
when he is he as hellion.
What if he is both? 
What if fusion meant
future in simplicity?
In the kissing of palms. 
In laying down our arms.

With whomever you choose to love, I hope you are able to be in the most unveiled version of yourself. I hope you, too, can lay down your arms.