Love & Pizza

Friend or foe,

I have to show

You something that makes my heart sing:

A burnt edge, with sauce that’s red

And melted stringy cheese

We call it pizza, and it’s the best

We order it to ease our lives before we take our nightly rest.

Is this the most important thing we make?

(Some would quibble)

Please close your eyes and take

A bite or even just a nibble

The warmth you feel;

The fear of making messes

Is similar to something unseen, though no less real

That often defines our human stresses

That’s love, I say

(and take your hand)

It’s something that is hard to convey

in words, but easy to understand

Like this food

It’s necessary,

And when misconstrued

It can make you wary.

When we’re young, love’s joy can be consuming

Our inexperience leads to fear when we sense its cooling

Over time, we may find that though that first hot bite excites

We might get hurt, and learn to wait for a temperature that’s ‘just right’

It should be stated that many of us never forget

A particular love (or pizza) and feelings might include regret

Because like with pizza, every day of love can’t be outstanding

It’s the variety of shared experience that ultimately is enchanting

Love & pizza are often found at birthday celebrations

Their mere existence wonderful, with occasional limitations

And when they’ve left for constellations

Or to the place things go when they’re withdrawn

Just close your eyes and realize

That they were never truly gone.

That’s remembrance: a tool, a gift

That humans keep inside

And when we’re old, those memories help us feel alive

And guide us home should we ever find ourselves adrift…

The things we miss exist, exist, exist!