Some people think love is a one-way thing,
A word with a single definition
And no compromises;
No inferences
No interpretations.
Some people think love is a third-grade club,
Ruled by immature children
With certain people not included
For no valid reason at all
And no room for reason either.
Some people think love is a roller-coaster,
Not for the ride, but for the sign
That says you have to be this high
To even be invited
To wait in line.
Some people think love is a concept,
Where people unite for a set of rules
Instead of their feelings
And are forced to pretend to be something they're not
Just to satisfy the opinions of others.
Some people think love is an object,
That it can be thrown around
And shaped to one form
That not everybody agrees with
And not everybody can afford.
Some people think love is a hat,
Where one size fits all
And anyone whose head won't fit
Must either force it on
Or give up on it altogether.
Some people think love is a shelf,
And whoever can't reach the top
Will never get to the top,
Even if they can jump or stretch up
Even if humankind can reach the moon.
Some people think love is a child,
That you have to parent it
That it can't make decisions on its own
Even though its wants
Are no different from yours.
Some people are very wrong in this world.
Some people don't know what love is at all.
Love can be a one-way thing -
The only way to get to it
Is through care and affection and honesty and passion.
Love can be a third-grade club -
A thing thought childish
Yet incredibly fun and wonderful.
Love can be a roller-coaster -
Thrilling and scary,
But beautifully amazing if you're up for the ride.
Love can be a concept -
An idea that connected emotions
Can bring two people together.
Love can be an object -
A prize won by the heart
Of people's inner beauty.
Love can be a hat -
Something worn with pride
And cherished with joy.
Love can be a child -
And no matter how that child is,
That child should be respected and free
To be whoever that child wants to be
Because,
Just like a child,
Love should be supported, cherished, accepted,
And loved by all
With no unfair rules
Or restrictions
Free to be itself.