to love and be loved

This piece wasn’t written to impress. It was written to confess.

These are the questions that sit in my chest when I think about love.

There was a tree at Africa Burn that said “leave one, take one”.

This poem is what I left behind… and what I’m still hoping to find.

to love and be loved

Oh Love… where art thou?

How do I find you?

How do I use you —

or be used by you?

How do I give you away?

How do I receive you?

How do I know when you’re here?

How do I know when you’re gone?

The good book tells us what you are,

and what you are not.

It says we are unconditionally loved…

but what does that even mean?

Does it mean I can do what I want

and everyone, everything,

will still love me?

Because the truth is —

that’s not what I’m seeing out here.

So I ask again,

How do I, just a man —

just a person —

How do I love?

And how do I be loved?

When do you start?

When do you end?

Why do you stop?

Why do you leave?

I don’t have the answers — only these questions.

Maybe you’ve asked some of them too.

So… what’s your thought on love?